Baseball fans know that every trade comes with risk, but some flops are harder to live down than others. And over the last 10 years, a handful of front offices have made moves that still leave fans scratching their heads. From future MVPs given away for next to nothing to shocking miscalculations, these are the worst MLB trades of the last decade.
6. Dansby Swanson and Ender Inciarte for Shelby Miller (D-backs to Braves)
In 2015, the Diamondbacks traded top prospect Dansby Swanson and outfielder Ender Inciarte to Atlanta for Shelby Miller. The deal imploded almost immediately, Miller struggled with injuries and inconsistency, while Swanson became an All-Star shortstop for the Braves.
5. Luis Castillo for Casey McGehee (Giants to Marlins)
Luis Castillo, later an All-Star with the Reds and Mariners, was traded by the Giants to Miami for Casey McGehee. The move was meant to bolster San Francisco’s infield, but McGehee’s stint was brief and unproductive. Castillo went on to thrive elsewhere.
4. Josh Donaldson to the Blue Jays (A’s to Toronto)
The Oakland Athletics sent 2014 All-Star Josh Donaldson to Toronto for a package centered around Brett Lawrie. Donaldson won the AL MVP in 2015, leading the Jays to a playoff berth. None of the players Oakland received made a major impact.
3. Yordan Álvarez for Josh Fields (Dodgers to Astros)
The Dodgers traded Yordan Álvarez, sight unseen, to the Astros for reliever Josh Fields in 2016. Álvarez developed into one of baseball’s most dangerous hitters, while Fields provided short-term bullpen depth and little else.
2. Fernando Tatis Jr. for James Shields (White Sox to Padres)
In 2016, the White Sox sent a 17-year-old Fernando Tatis Jr. to San Diego in exchange for veteran pitcher James Shields. Tatis went on to become a face of the franchise. Shields, on the other hand, posted a 5.31 ERA during his time in Chicago. This one haunts the South Side to this day.
1. The Mookie Betts Trade (Red Sox to Dodgers)
In 2020, the Red Sox traded Mookie Betts and David Price to the Dodgers for Alex Verdugo, Jeter Downs, and Connor Wong. Betts became a cornerstone of LA’s lineup and helped them win the 2020 World Series. Boston, meanwhile, hasn’t been the same. Downs is no longer with the team, Verdugo has been inconsistent, and only Wong remains on the roster.
This MLB trades is often compared to the Babe Ruth sale in terms of its impact. Even FOX Sports’ Colin Cowherd called it one of the two worst trades in MLB history.
These trades show how unpredictable player development can be, and how damaging short-term thinking is. For every blockbuster that pans out, there’s a cautionary tale that reshapes a franchise’s future in the worst way possible.
