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5 biggest trades in winter meetings history

Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

Dave Dombrowski and the Boston Red Sox made a gigantic splash Tuesday at the winter meetings, reportedly acquiring left-handed ace Chris Sale from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for a package of players, including baseball's top prospect Yoan Moncada.

The deal sent shockwaves through the baseball world, as the Red Sox immediately positioned themselves as favorites to repeat as American League East champions, while also making them a potential serious challenger for the World Series title.

This isn't the first monumental trade to shake the foundations of the winter meetings, and it certainly won't be the last.

Here are five of the biggest trades, not including today's transaction between Boston and Chicago:

Yankees acquire Maris, 1959

During the 1959 winter meetings in Miami Beach, Fla., there's no way the New York Yankees could've predicted how much of a baseball legend Roger Maris would become after acquiring him, Joe DeMaestri, and Kent Hadley from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for Don Larsen, Hank Bauer, Norm Siebern, and Marv Throneberry. Maris' 61 home runs in 1961 would break Babe Ruth's single-season record and hold strong until 1998.

Robinson joins the Orioles, 1965

In 1965, the Baltimore Orioles traded for arguably the greatest player in franchise history when they acquired Frank Robinson from the Cincinnati Reds for Jack Bladschun, Milt Pappas, and Dick Simpson. Robinson would win his second career American League MVP award during his first season with the club, help them win two World Series titles, and eventually become a Hall of Famer.

Yankees nab speedster Henderson, 1984

The all-time stolen base king, Rickey Henderson, may be primarily remembered for his career with the Oakland Athletics, but during the 1984 winter meetings in Houston, he was dealt to the Yankees for Tim Birtsas, Jay Howell, Stan Javier, Eric Plunk, and Jose Rijo. Henderson would swipe 326 bags for New York, second most in franchise history behind Derek Jeter, and was a four-time All-Star during his four-and-a-half seasons with the franchise.

Alomar, Carter join the Blue Jays, 1990

Quite possibly the biggest trade in Toronto Blue Jays history came at the winter meetings in 1990 when general manager Pat Gillick traded Fred McGriff and Tony Fernandez to the San Diego Padres for future Hall of Famer Roberto Alomar and slugger Joe Carter. Alomar and Carter would become crucial members of the franchise's consecutive title runs in 1992 and '93, with Carter ending the '93 World Series with the Canadian version of the shot heard 'round the world.

Miggy heads to Detroit, 2007

During the 2007 winter meetings, the Detroit Tigers acquired Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis from the then-Florida Marlins in exchange for six players, including a young Andrew Miller. Cabrera had already established himself as a great hitter, but after coming to the Motor City, he became one of the game's best, posting a .977 OPS to go along with 308 home runs, 1,030 RBIs, four batting titles, and two MVP awards. The 33-year-old doesn't appear to be slowing down either, slashing .316/.393/.563 last season.

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