Throwback Thursday: 5 Worst Trades in Seattle Mariners History

#5

Mariners Trade Shin-Soo Choo to Cleveland for Ben Broussard

It was pretty embarrassing watching the Mariners go after Shin-Soo Cho during this last off season. Yes, he was a high coveted free agent. But most fans don’t remember he used to be a high prospect in the Mariners organization… before we traded him.

In 2006, the Mariners shipped their young outfielder to Cleveland for Ben Broussard. Don’t get me wrong, Broussard wasn’t a terrible player. He could play the acoustic guitar like it was nobody’s business.

My issue is that the organization didn’t give Choo a chance to succeed in Seattle. He only played 14 games before they traded him.

Fast forward to present day, Choo is arguably the best leadoff hitter in the game and just signed a seven year 130 million dollar contract to play for our rival Texas Rangers. You can definitely say this didn’t pan out so well for the Mariners.

#4

Mariners Trade Jason Varitek and Derek Lowe to Boston for Heathcliff Slocumb

This may go down as one of the worst trades of all time, but only because Slocumb was such a bust. The Mariners clearly didn’t know what they had when they traded away Lowe and Varitek.

Apparently, the Mariners needed a closer really bad when they shipped both young prospects to the Red Sox for Slocumb in 1997. The worst part is that Seattle received no value from Slocumb. He was a bust from the get go.

Slocumb may have saved 17 games the remainder of 1997, but he never finished a year with more than 10 saves the rest of his career. To make matter worse, Lowe finished with 178 career wins, and Varitek went on to be the captain of the Red sox leading them to their first two World Series Championships.

#3

Mariners Trade Adam Jones and George Sherrill to Baltimore for Erik Bedard

This one is a fresh wound. It still hurts a little when you touch it. Every year we draft for our fantasy baseball leagues, I get a little angry inside when I see Adam Jones picked in the first round.

This was an absolute mistake. You don’t ever trade a top hitting prospect, for a pitcher. I would be lying if I said Erik Bedard wasn’t good at the time. He was destroying teams in the East, and pitching gems against teams like the Red Sox and Yankees. But that immediately changed when he came to Seattle.

The second Bedard came to the Mariners, he immediately broke himself. He never once won more than 6 games a year, and he didn’t even play the entire 2010 season due to injury.

On the other hand, Sherrill became immediate the closer for the Orioles, and has panned out to be a solid reliever coming out of the bullpen. Adam Jones has turned out to be arguably the best all-around player in the game. Hitting for average and power, a gold glove center fielder and perennial All-Star. The Mariners wish that had this one back… badly.

#2

Mariners Trade Tino Martinez, Jim Mecir and Jeff Nelson to New York for Russ Davis and Sterling Hitchcock

There are a lot of names in this blockbuster deal, but the most identified name is ex-Mariner Tino Martinez. The main reason why this is one of the Worst Trades in Mariners history, is the Mariners knew exactly who they had with Tino before they dealt him to the hated New York Yankees.

Tino grew up in the Mariners organization. He was picked #14 overall by the Mariners in the first round of the 1988 amateur draft. He was developed in the minor league system, and played five seasons as the Mariners 1B taking over for the beloved Alvin Davis.

His break out year was during the famous 1995 season. Tino finished with 31 home runs and drove in 111 RBI. The Mariners didn’t think that was good enough as they shipped him to the Yankees the following year.

Tino ended his 16 year career with 339 home runs, 1271 RBI and a lifetime .271 batting average. He is a four time World Series champion, and has career numbers that will see tons of votes come is Hall of Fame eligibility. The Yankees have also honored Tino with a plaque in the famous Monument Park.

Russ Davis ended up a decent everyday third basemen for the Mariners, but it’s pretty obvious the Mariners did not get rightful value in this horrible trade.

#1

Mariners Trade David Ortiz to Minnesota for Dave Hollins

Before “Big Papi” David Ortiz became the face of the Boston Red Sox, he was a young prospect looking for playing time in the Mariners organization. The Mariners clearly didn’t see what the Twins saw in Ortiz when they shipped him to Minnesota back in 1997.

Ortiz was drafted by the Mariners in 1992 amateur draft. He spent 4 years in the minors, but was never promoted to the big league ball club. Once traded to Minnesota, he struggled to play full time and was eventually dealt for a second time to the Boston Red Sox.

The rest is history. Ortiz is as strong candidate as the face of MLB. Sitting at 450 career home runs, 3 World Series titles, and one of the most beloved players in the game of baseball. He is a six time Silver Slugger Award winner and has been to nine All-Star games.

David Ortiz will be a future Hall of Famer. And worst of all, he will not be wearing a Mariners hat. I almost forgot, Dave Hollins played only 28 games for the Mariners. Not exactly the ideal trade.