Ever notice how baseball fans love nothing more than declaring a clear winner and loser in every trade? Yet the truly fascinating deals in MLB history are those unicorn transactions where both teams actually got what they wanted.
This tour through baseball’s rare win-win wonderland examines six trades where nobody got fleeced. Let’s explore these deals where GMs somehow managed to help their own team without destroying another’s future.
6. Willy Adames Trade (2021)
Poor Willy Adames couldn’t hit at Tropicana Field in 2021. The Rays, with their “sell before they get expensive” philosophy, shipped him to Milwaukee.
With the Brewers, Adames transformed faster than a superhero in a phone booth. He smacked 20 homers with a 137 OPS+ while Milwaukee went 73-45 after his arrival.
Tampa Bay received Drew Rasmussen (3.7 WAR, 2.80 ERA) and JP Feyereisen (24⅓ scoreless innings in 2022)—elite production for pennies on the dollar.
“Willy became the heartbeat of that team overnight,” noted Brewers broadcaster Brian Anderson. His impact was like adding both a cleanup hitter and a team therapist in one trade.
5. Mark Teixeira Trade (2007)
The Braves needed a power bat for their playoff push in 2007, so they went shopping for Mark Teixeira. The switch-hitting first baseman delivered like a pizza arriving exactly when your hunger peaks.
In 157 games with Atlanta, Teixeira hammered 37 homers with a .295 average and 134 RBIs. His 152 OPS+ made the middle of the Braves lineup more dangerous than swimming with sharks while wearing steak underwear.
The Rangers, meanwhile, hit the prospect jackpot bigger than a game show contestant on their birthday. They received Elvis Andrus, Neftali Feliz, Matt Harrison, and Jarrod Saltalamacchia—essentially their future infield and bullpen in one tidy package.
This quartet helped Texas reach back-to-back World Series in 2010-2011, with Feliz saving 72 games over those two seasons. Who says you can’t rebuild and contend simultaneously? (The Pirates, probably.)
4. Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell Trade (2005)
Boston acquired Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell in 2005. Beckett won 84 games over six years, collecting three All-Star nods and the 2007 ALCS MVP trophy.
Lowell, initially viewed as a salary dump, batted .295 with a 110 OPS+ in Boston. He finished 5th in MVP voting in 2007 while driving in 120 runs.
Florida landed Hanley Ramirez, who won Rookie of the Year in 2006 and a batting title in 2009. Anibal Sanchez developed into a reliable starter, making over 30 starts multiple times for the Marlins.
3. Yoenis Cespedes Trade (2015)
When the Mets needed offense in 2015, they gambled on Yoenis Cespedes. He immediately morphed into a superstar, slugging .657 in the second half and carrying the Mets to the World Series.
Detroit received Michael Fulmer, who won AL Rookie of the Year in 2016. From 2016-2018, he posted a 3.81 ERA in 75 starts, giving Tigers fans something to watch during their painful rebuild.
This deal worked because both teams knew exactly what they were—the desperate playoff contender and the aging star ready for a rebrand.
2. Dan Haren Trade (2010)
The Angels nabbed Dan Haren mid-season in 2010. He delivered 94 innings with a 2.84 ERA after joining the Halos. His 1.7 ERA across his final eight games nearly pushed them into contention.
Arizona received Patrick Corbin, who made two All-Star teams and later finished 5th in Cy Young voting in 2018. Joe Saunders also provided 400 reliable innings with an ERA under 4.
Angels fans celebrated getting an ace without mortgaging their future. Diamondbacks fans initially grumbled, then changed their tune when Corbin developed into a frontline starter.
1. Kevin Brown Trade (1997)
After winning the 1997 World Series, the Marlins traded Kevin Brown to the Padres. With San Diego, Brown pitched like a man possessed—2.30 ERA over 65 starts in two seasons.
His 1998 campaign produced 8.6 WAR while pitching 257 innings, leading the Padres to the World Series. Brown transformed San Diego’s rotation into one of baseball’s best.
The Marlins received Derrek Lee, who hammered 120+ homers over six seasons with a 115 OPS+ and three Gold Gloves. He became a key piece of their improbable 2003 championship team.
