Biggest Recent MLB Trades – And Who Won

With the Blue Jays and Marlins recently pulling off a major blockbuster deal, what are the biggest deals in baseball over the past five seasons and who won each of them?

Curtis Granderson is a very good centerfielder for the Yankees but they paid a big price too get him. Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images

This week’s news of Miami’s most recent salary dump finally becoming official clearly looks like a major win for the Blue Jays who get immediate help in shortstop Jose Reyes, and starting pitchers Josh Johnson and Mark Buehrle. But with prospects involved in the trade and injuries always a part of the game, it could take years to truly determine who got the better end of the deal.

With that in mind, here are the biggest trades over the last five seasons and who won each deal:

5. December 8, 2009—Yankees get Granderson in three-team deal.

The trade: The Yankees traded away Phil Coke, Austin Jackson, and Ian Kennedy while receiving Curtis Granderson. The Tigers traded away Edwin Jackson and Curtis Granderson while receiving Phil Coke, Austin Jackson, Max Scherzer, and Daniel Schlereth. The Diamondbacks traded away Max Scherzer and Daniel Schlereth while receiving Ian Kennedy and Edwin Jackson.

Who won: Detroit—in a very close call. The Tigers got two good, young cost-controlled players in Scherzer and Jackson. Meanwhile, the Yankees made out well with Granderson who has hit 84 home runs the past two seasons. Even Arizona got the best of the Hughes/Chamberlain/Kennedy trio from the Yankees as Kennedy went 21-4 in 2011 and 15-12 last season.

4. November 10, 2008—Rockies Deal Holliday for Street, Gonzalez.

The trade: Colorado dealt Matt Holliday to Oakland for Carlos Gonzalez, Greg Smith, and Huston Street.