MLB · 9 months ago

Ranking the Top 10 Worst Trades in Sports History

Grant White

Host · Writer

1. The Curse of the Bambino
You know you messed up when a championship curse becomes synonymous with your franchise. The Curse of the Bambino was the moniker that followed the Boston Red Sox for nearly a century after they traded away Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees for $100,000. Ruth would spearhead one of the greatest dynasties ever while cementing his position atop the home run leaderboard. The Red Sox wouldn't be relevant again until 2004.

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10. Maple Leafs Trade Away a Franchise Netminder
You'd think that after two decades without a game-changing netminder, the Toronto Maple Leafs would have learned their lesson by now. The Leafs' problems didn't start when they traded away Tuukka Rask but were undoubtedly exacerbated by it. Andrew Raycroft never panned out in Toronto, while Rask became a franchise cornerstone for the Boston Bruins.

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9. Raiders Acquire Antonio Brown for a Hot Minute
At his peak, Antonio Brown was one of the greatest wide receivers in the game. But everyone should have known something was wrong when the Pittsburgh Steelers traded him to the Oakland Raiders for a couple of mid-round draft picks. Brown was an offseason distraction before refusing to suit up for the Raiders. Ultimately, Oakland got a few months of bad press, and the Steelers got Diontae Johnson.
8. Bruins Trade Away a Hall of Famer
Even in his twilight years, Joe Thornton was a force to be reckoned with. That's what makes his trade from the Bruins such a curious transaction. Boston got a trio of replacement-level players in exchange for Thornton in his prime years. While the San Jose Sharks and Boston Bruins both enjoyed success, Boston's dynasty years could have been much more fruitful with Thornton in the lineup.
7. Deshaun Watson Gets Relegated to the Dawg Pound
Granted, we have yet to see the full extent of the devastation. Still, the Deshaun Watson trade to the Cleveland Browns easily ranks as one of the worst in sports. Watson's tenure with the Browns is off to a tumultuous start, while the Houston Texans have used the bonanza of draft picks to rebuild their franchise. Things will only get worse for years to come.
6. The Nets Acquire Two Aging Superstars
The Brooklyn Nets consistently find themselves on the losing end of trades. However, it was none worse than their acquisition of Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. Brooklyn would go on to have a few ho-hum campaigns with the duo, while the Boston Celtics would use those draft picks to become one of the most dominant teams in the NBA.
5. Bucks Give Away a Hall of Famer
The Los Angeles Lakers have had more dynasties than almost every other NBA team combined. Their acquisition of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar cemented their position as one of the premier teams of the 80s. The Lakers were a virtual lock to make the NBA Finals year after year, while the Milwaukee Bucks rarely made it out of the first round.
4. Red Sox Make Another Ill-Fated Trade
At the end of the 2010s, the MLB was plagued with numerous cheating controversies. The Houston Astros, deservingly, soaked the brunt of the criticism, with the Boston Red Sox avoiding much of the public humiliation. One of the unintended consequences of their scandal was the deal that sent Mookie Betts to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Betts has continued to shine while the Red Sox are happy to compete for a wild card spot.
3. Lakers Fleece Another Unsuspecting Trade Partner
From the start, the Los Angeles Lakers knew who they wanted from the 1996 NBA Draft. Fully aware that Kobe Bryant wouldn't fall to them in the 24th spot, the Lakers orchestrated a deal with the Charlotte Hornets to acquire Bryant for Vlade Divac. Mamba would go on to have one of the most illustrious careers of all time, while the Hornets have tried to conceal their identity.
2. The Great One Gets Traded
Not many franchises can say they've traded away the Greatest of all time, but the Edmonton Oilers can claim that distinction. Before the start of the 1988-89 season, the Oilers traded away Wayne Gretzky for a package of mediocre NHLers, a bevy of draft picks, and a fistful of money. Gretzky would go on to lead the Los Angeles Kings to a Stanley Cup. While Edmonton managed one championship without The Great One, it signaled the end of their dynasty years.
1. The Curse of the Bambino
You know you messed up when a championship curse becomes synonymous with your franchise. The Curse of the Bambino was the moniker that followed the Boston Red Sox for nearly a century after they traded away Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees for $100,000. Ruth would spearhead one of the greatest dynasties ever while cementing his position atop the home run leaderboard. The Red Sox wouldn't be relevant again until 2004.

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10. Maple Leafs Trade Away a Franchise Netminder
You'd think that after two decades without a game-changing netminder, the Toronto Maple Leafs would have learned their lesson by now. The Leafs' problems didn't start when they traded away Tuukka Rask but were undoubtedly exacerbated by it. Andrew Raycroft never panned out in Toronto, while Rask became a franchise cornerstone for the Boston Bruins.

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Ranking the Top 10 Worst Trades in Sports History

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