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When Dayton Moore was first hired, we were excited at the prospect of re-making this franchise. We were so tired of the losing, so tired of seeing the same old rejects over again - Emil Brown, Mark Teahan, Scott Elarton, ugh. Dayton Moore would come in and shake things up. He would trade everything that wasn't bolted to the floor, and bring in his own winning players.
Has that happened?
In his first two months of the job, Dayton Moore made seven trades, acquiring twelve players. Only the Phillies made more trades in that time (eight), and no team in baseball acquired more players through trades over that time. Not that surprising considering Dayton had just gotten the job and wanted to clear out the roster and bring in his kind of players.
The players ranged from promising AAA players (Joey Gathright), to older minor league vets (Ryan Shealy), oft-injured pitchers (Jorge de la Rosa) and expensive reclamation projects (Odalis Perez). None of the acquired players were solid prospects (aside from pitcher Dan Cortes) however, and none ultimately became impact players, although Jorge de la Rosa was useful once he left Kansas City (although again oft-injured). In his first twelve months on the job, Dayton Moore made twelve trades, acquiring seventeen players, equaled only in baseball by Cincinnati.
Here is a complete list of every Dayton Moore "player-for-player" trade (not counting player acquisitions for cash).
|
Date
|
Team
|
Acquired
|
Traded Away
|
|
June 20, 2006
|
TBR
|
OF Joey Gathright, IF Fernando Cortez
|
P J.P. Howell
|
|
July 19, 2006
|
NYM
|
IF Jeff Keppinger
|
2B Ruben Gotay
|
|
July 24, 2006
|
CHW
|
P Dan Cortes, P Tyler Lumsden
|
P Mike MacDougal
|
|
July 25, 2006
|
LAD
|
P Odalis Perez, P Blake Johnson, P Julio Pimentel
|
P Elmer Dessens
|
|
July 25, 2006
|
MIL
|
P Jorge de la Rosa
|
IF Tony Graffanino
|
|
July 31, 2006
|
COL
|
1B Ryan Shealy, P Scott Dohmann
|
P Jeremy Affeldt, P Denny Bautista
|
|
July 31, 2006
|
TEX
|
P Joselo Diaz
|
OF Matt Stairs
|
|
Dec. 6, 2006
|
NYM
|
P Brian Bannister
|
P Ambriorix Burgos
|
|
Dec. 16, 2006
|
CHW
|
1B Ross Gload
|
P Andrew Sisco
|
|
Jan. 10, 2007
|
CIN
|
P Russ Haltiwanger
|
IF Jeff Keppinger
|
|
March 23, 2007
|
ATL
|
SS Tony Pena Jr.
|
P Erik Cordier
|
|
March 27, 2007
|
MIL
|
P Ben Hendrickson
|
C Maxim St. Pierre
|
|
June 14, 2007
|
ATL
|
OF Bill McCarthy
|
1B Graham Koonce
|
|
July 13, 2007
|
DET
|
P Roman Colon
|
P Daniel Christensen
|
|
July 31, 2007
|
ATL
|
P Kyle Davies
|
P Octavio Dotel
|
|
Dec. 14, 2007
|
ARI
|
IF Alberto Callaspo
|
P Billy Buckner
|
|
March 19, 2008
|
CIN
|
P Brad Salmon
|
P Henry Arias
|
|
March 26, 2008
|
COL
|
P Ramon Ramirez
|
P Jorge de la Rosa
|
|
June 6, 2008
|
LAD
|
IF Juan Rivera
|
SS Angel Berroa
|
|
August 9, 2008
|
CHW
|
OF Paulo Orlando
|
P Horacio Ramirez
|
|
Oct. 31, 2008
|
FLA
|
1B Mike Jacobs
|
P Leo Nunez (Juan Oviedo)
|
|
Nov. 19, 2008
|
BOS
|
OF Coco Crisp
|
P Ramon Ramirez
|
|
April 1, 2009
|
FLA
|
P Eric Basurto
|
1B Ross Gload
|
|
July 10, 2009
|
SEA
|
SS Yuniesky Betancourt
|
P Dan Cortes, P Derrick Saito
|
|
Sept. 3, 2009
|
TEX
|
C Manny Pina and OF Tim Smith
|
P Daniel Gutierrez
|
|
Nov. 6, 2009
|
CHW
|
2B Chris Getz and 3B Josh Fields
|
3B Mark Teahen
|
|
May 1, 2010
|
ARI
|
IF Rey Navarro
|
P Carlos Rosa
|
|
July 22, 2010
|
LAA
|
P Sean O’Sullivan and P Will Smith
|
IF Alberto Callaspo
|
|
July 28, 2010
|
LAD
|
C Lucas May and P Elisaul Pimentel
|
OF Scott Podsednik
|
|
July 31, 2010
|
ATL
|
OF Gregor Blanco, P Jesse Chavez, and P Tim Collins
|
OF Rick Ankiel and P Kyle Farnsworth
|
|
August 13, 2010
|
SFG
|
P Kevin Pucetas
|
OF Jose Guillen
|
|
Nov. 10, 2010
|
OAK
|
P Justin Marks and P Vin Mazzaro
|
OF David DeJesus
|
|
Dec. 19, 2010
|
MIL
|
OF Lorenzo Cain, SS Alcides Escobar, P Jeremy Jeffress, P Jake Odorizzi
|
SS Yuniesky Betancourt, P Zack Greinke
|
|
June 1, 2011
|
ARI
|
IF Andrea Pizziconi
|
C Lucas May
|
|
July 20, 2011
|
DET
|
P Antonio Cruz and C Julio Rodriguez
|
IF Wilson Betemit
|
|
July 30, 2011
|
BOS
|
IF Yamaico Navarro and P Kendal Volz
|
IF Mike Aviles
|
|
Sept. 27, 2011
|
OAK
|
P Ethan Hollingsworth
|
1B Kila Ka’aihue
|
|
Nov. 7, 2011
|
SFG
|
P Jonathan Sanchez and P Ryan Verdugo
|
OF Melky Cabrera
|
|
Dec. 7, 2011
|
PIT
|
IF Diego Goris and P Brooks Pounder
|
IF Yamaico Navarro
|
|
March 20, 2012
|
HOU
|
OF Jason Bourgeois and C Humberto Quintero
|
P Kevin Chapman and OF D’Andre Toney
|
|
July 20, 2012
|
COL
|
P Jeremy Guthrie
|
P Jonathan Sanchez
|
|
July 31, 2012
|
CIN
|
P Donnie Joseph, P JC Sulbaran
|
P Jonathan Broxton |
Here is the number of trades made by every team in baseball since the day Dayton was hired:
|
Team
|
Trades
|
Players Acquired
|
Notables
|
Players Traded Away
|
Notables
|
|
BOS
|
54
|
58
|
Jason Bay, Eric Gagne, Adrian Gonzalez, Victor Martinez
|
79
|
Marco Scutaro, Manny Ramirez , Josh Reddick, Kevin Youkilis
|
|
OAK
|
48
|
77
|
Carlos Gonzalez, Gio Gonzalez, Matt Holliday, Josh Willingham
|
66
|
Carlos Gonzalez, Gio Gonzalez, Dan Haren, Nick Swisher
|
|
ARI
|
47
|
65
|
Trevor Cahill, Dan Haren, Daniel Hudson, Ian Kennedy,
|
68
|
Carlos Gonzalez, Dan Haren, Edwin Jackson, Max Scherzer
|
|
CHC
|
45
|
74
|
Matt Garza, Anthony Rizzo, Travis Wood
|
65
|
Ryan Dempster , Omar Infante, Derrek Lee, Carlos Zambrano
|
|
SEA
|
45
|
66
|
Erik Bedard, Frankin Gutierrez, Cliff Lee, Jesus Montero
|
66
|
Asdrubal Cabrera, Shin Soo Choo, Adam Jones, Cliff Lee
|
|
SDP
|
42
|
64
|
Jason Bartlett, Cameron Maybin, Carlos Quentin, Huston Street
|
54
|
Adrian Gonzalez, Mat Latos , Jake Peavy, Anthony Rizzo,
|
|
KCR
|
42
|
63
|
Lorenzo Cain, Alberto Callaspo, Coco Crisp, Alcides Escobar
|
47
|
Melky Cabrera, Jorge de la Rosa, David DeJesus, Zack Greinke
|
|
TEX
|
42
|
53
|
Elvis Andrus, Nelson Cruz, Josh Hamilton, Mike Napoli
|
63
|
John Danks, Eric Gagne, Mark Teixiera
|
|
COL
|
42
|
52
|
Jorge de la Rosa, Carlos Gonzalez, Jason Hammel
|
50
|
Matt Holliday, Chris Ianetta , Ubaldo Jimenez, Huston Street
|
|
PIT
|
41
|
65
|
Adam LaRoche, James McDonald, Joel Hanrahan, Wandy Rodriguez
|
54
|
Jose Bautista, Jason Bay, Xavier Nady, Oliver Perez
|
|
CHW
|
40
|
54
|
John Danks, Gavin Floyd, Nick Swisher, Jake Peavy
|
58
|
Jon Garland, Gio Gonzalez, Nick Swisher, Javier Vazquez
|
|
ATL
|
40
|
53
|
Jair Jurrjens, Rafael Soriano, Mark Texieira, Dan Uggla
|
64
|
Elvis Andrus, Neftali Feliz, Adam LaRoche, Mark Teixiera
|
|
CLE
|
39
|
53
|
Asdrubal Cabrera, Shin Soo Choo, Ubaldo Jimenez, Carlos Santana,
|
47
|
Franklin Gutierrez, Cliff Lee, Victor Martinez, C.C. Sabathia
|
|
CIN
|
39
|
51
|
Mat Latos, Kyle Lohse, Sean Marshall, Scott Rolen
|
54
|
Adam Dunn, Edwin Encarnacion, Josh Hamilton, Austin Kearns
|
|
WAS
|
37
|
49
|
Tyler Clippard, Gio Gonzalez, Wilson Ramos, Josh Willingham,
|
51
|
Matt Capps, Joel Hanrahan, Nyjer Morgan, Josh Willingham,
|
|
BAL
|
36
|
52
|
Jason Hammel, J.J. Hardy, Adam Jones, Luke Scott
|
42
|
Erik Bedard, Miguel Tejada
|
|
MIA
|
35
|
52
|
Omar Infante, Carlos Lee, Justin Ruggiano, Carlos Zambrano
|
44
|
Miguel Cabrera, Hanley Ramirez, Anibal Sanchez, Dan Uggla
|
|
PHI
|
35
|
47
|
Freddy Garcia, Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Hunter Pence
|
49
|
Bobby Abreu, Michael Bourn, Gio Gonzalez, Cliff Lee
|
|
DET
|
35
|
42
|
Miguel Cabrera, Austin Jackson, Max Scherzer, Gary Sheffield
|
53
|
Edwin Jackson, Matt Joyce, Jair Jurrjens
|
|
NYY
|
34
|
46
|
Bobby Abreu, Curtis Granderson, Nick Swisher, Ichiro Suzuki
|
57
|
Austin Jackson, Randy Johnson, Ian Kennedy, Gary Sheffield
|
|
TOR
|
33
|
46
|
Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion, Scott Rolen, Marco Scutaro
|
48
|
Troy Glaus, Roy Halladay, Shaun Marcum, Scott Rolen
|
|
LAD
|
33
|
39
|
Ted Lilly, Hanley Ramirez, Manny Ramirez
|
52
|
James McDonald, Dioner Navarro, Carlos Santana
|
|
HOU
|
32
|
60
|
Michael Bourn, Francisco Cordero, Miguel Tejada,
|
47
|
Carlos Lee, Roy Oswalt, Hunter Pence, Ben Zobrist
|
|
MIL
|
32
|
40
|
Zack Greinke, Shaun Marcum, Nyjer Morgan, C.C. Sabathia
|
45
|
Nelson Cruz, Zack Greinke, J.J Hardy, Brett Lawrie
|
|
TBR
|
30
|
48
|
Matt Garza, Matt Joyce, Dioner Navarro, Ben Zobrist
|
38
|
Matt Garza, Jason Hammel, Edwin Jackson, Delmon Young
|
|
NYM
|
27
|
34
|
Oliver Perez, J.J. Putz, Johan Santana
|
35
|
Carlos Beltran, Carlos Gomez, Xavier Nady
|
|
SFG
|
24
|
26
|
Carlos Beltran, Melky Cabrera , Hunter Pence, Freddy Sanchez
|
31
|
Bengie Molina, Jonathan Sanchez, Nate Schierholtz, Zach Wheeler
|
|
MIN
|
20
|
29
|
Matt Capps, J.J. Hardy, Delmon Young
|
24
|
Matt Garza, J.J. Hardy, Francisco Liriano, Kyle Lohse
|
|
STL
|
20
|
24
|
Troy Glaus, Edwin Jackson
|
27
|
Luke Gregerson, Chris Perez, Colby Rasmus, Scott Rolen
|
|
LAA
|
17
|
17
|
Jon Garland, Zack Greinke, Dan Haren, Vernon Wells
|
29
|
Orlando Cabrera, Mike Napoli, Joe Saunders
|
A few observations:
- This is a quantitative study (and a pretty simplistic one at that), not a qualitative study. We'd all be fine with it if Dayton only made one trade a year so long as it was an awesome trade. Some of the teams that have made the fewest trades have actually been among the most successful, although its perhaps because of their success they have not felt the need to make many trades.
- Since it is quantitative, all trades are created equal, meaning the Russ Haltiwanger deal counts as much as the Zack Greinke deal (except in terms of players acquired)
- I would like to do a more qualitative study, perhaps this fall, examining the value in players acquired and traded away. However, just eyeballing it, it appears as if the only significant trade in Dayton’s six years is the Zack Greinke deal. While I love Alcides Escobar, if he’s the best player you have acquired in a trade in six years, you may not be doing a great job as a General Manager.
- What is missing from Dayton’s column is any kind of unearthed gem acquired in a trade. Cleveland landed Shin Soo Choo, Tampa Bay landed Ben Zobrist, Toronto landed Jose Bautista, all through trades of insignificant pieces. The cupboard may have been bare for Dayton when he arrived in Kansas City, but that is not a prerequisite for being able to land quality players.
- In fairness to Dayton however, the vets he inherited had little trade value, and the youngsters he had (Butler, Greinke, Gordon) are the kind of guys you want to build around. When he did deal Greinke, he appeared to get a pretty good deal for him, however he mis-timed the market for some of his other useful assets like David DeJesus, Joakim Soria, and possibly Gil Meche, Albero Callaspo, Mike Aviles and Leo Nunez as well.