MLB GM Rankings, 20-11: Who Luhnow traded for Verlander will never matter
Heading into next week's winter meetings, theScore ranked every MLB team's top executive based solely on the best trade he's made during his career. For teams with a president of baseball operations/president/general manager, only the top executive was considered. After already reviewing 30-21, we continue with 20-11:
20. Chris Antonetti, Indians
Current Role: President of Baseball Ops.
Team During Trade: Cleveland Indians
Date of Trade: July 31, 2016
To CLE | To NYY |
---|---|
Andrew Miller | Clint Frazier |
Justus Sheffield | |
Ben Heller | |
J.P. Feyereisen |
The cost to acquire Miller was steep - Frazier and Sheffield were considered two of Cleveland's top three prospects - but the Indians would not have reached Game 7 of the 2016 World Series without the left-handed reliever. Miller owns a 1.47 ERA, 0.74 WHIP, and 141 strikeouts in 91 2/3 innings with the Indians, and registered a 1.49 ERA across two postseasons.
19. Billy Eppler, Angels
Current Role: General Manager
Team During Trade: Los Angeles Angels
Date of Trade: Aug. 31, 2017
To LAA | To DET |
---|---|
Justin Upton | Grayson Long |
Elvin Rodriguez |
Eppler took advantage of the Tigers' salary dump, landing Upton for the club's No. 9 prospect who has yet to throw above Double-A. While Upton has only played 27 games for the Angels, the move is still seen as a major win for Eppler. He was able to lock up a middle-of-the-order bat long-term to complement Mike Trout while also taking care of left field, which had been a revolving door of average players in recent years.
18. Mike Hazen, D-Backs
Current Role: Executive VP, General Manager
Team During Trade: Arizona Diamondbacks
Date of Trade: July 18, 2017
To ARI | To DET |
---|---|
J.D. Martinez | Sergio Alcantara |
Jose King | |
Dawel Lugo |
Just like Eppler, Hazen benefited from the Tigers' selloff by landing Martinez for prospects - none that fall within MLB Pipeline's Top 100. The reward was Martinez hitting a staggering 29 home runs and posting a 1.107 OPS over 62 games in the desert, helping the Diamondbacks reach the postseason for the first time since 2011.
17. Rick Hahn, White Sox
Current Role: Senior VP, General Manager
Team During Trade: Chicago White Sox
Date of Trade: Dec. 10, 2013
To CWS | To LAA | To ARI |
---|---|---|
Adam Eaton | Hector Santiago | Mark Trumbo |
Tyler Skaggs | A.J. Schugel | |
Brandon Jacobs |
Hahn landed a versatile outfielder and top-of-the-order hitter in Eaton during a time when the White Sox had postseason aspirations. Though it cost Chicago an emerging middle-of-the rotation starter in Santiago, Eaton excelled in three seasons on the South Side, hitting .290/.362/.422 with 29 homers, 83 doubles, and 28 triples, while also swiping 47 bases. Hahn would later ship Eaton to Washington for a trio of top prospects.
16. Mike Rizzo, Nationals
Current Role: President of Baseball Ops., General Manager
Team During Trade: Washington Nationals
Date of Trade: Dec. 23, 2011
To WSH | To OAK |
---|---|
Gio Gonzalez | Tommy Milone |
Robert Gilliam | Derek Norris |
Brad Peacock | |
A.J.Cole |
Rizzo took advantage of the Athletics' rebuild by landing Gonzalez for four prospects. While only Milone and Norris would appear in a game for Oakland, Gonzalez finished third in Cy Young voting in his first season with the Nationals. He's since posted a 79-54 record along with a 3.49 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, and 1,089 strikeouts across six seasons.
15. Billy Beane, Athletics
Current Role: Executive VP Baseball Ops.
Team During Trade: Oakland Athletics
Date of Trade: July 8, 2008
To OAK | To CHC |
---|---|
Josh Donaldson | Rich Harden |
Eric Patterson | Chad Gaudin |
Matt Murton | |
Sean Gallagher |
Six years before Beane traded Donaldson away, the Athletics executive landed the future star from the Cubs for Harden. Donaldson became the A's everyday third baseman in 2013, when he finished fourth in MVP voting, and followed that up the next season with his first All-Star appearance and another top-10 MVP finish. Harden was great for the Cubs upon arrival but struggled in his second year.
14. John Mozeliak, Cardinals
Current Role: President of Baseball Ops.
Team During Trade: St. Louis Cardinals
Date of Trade: July 24, 2009
To STL | To OAK |
---|---|
Matt Holliday | Clayton Mortensen |
Shane Peterson | |
Brett Wallace |
Mozeliak traded three prospects for Holliday to give his club an impact bat prior to the trade deadline. The outfielder hit 13 homers and posted a 1.023 OPS in 63 games with the Cardinals, and would eventually agree a seven-year, $120-million deal to remain in St. Louis long-term, where he was a four-time All-Star and World Series champion. The Athletics received only 33 2/3 innings and seven at-bats from the prospects acquired in the deal.
13. Jeff Luhnow, Astros
Current Role: General Manager
Team During Trade: Houston Astros
Date of Trade: Aug. 31, 2017
To HOU | To DET |
---|---|
Justin Verlander | Daz Cameron |
Juan Ramirez | Franklin Perez |
Jake Rogers |
The Astros wouldn't have won the World Series if Verlander hadn't accepted a trade to Houston just seconds before the deadline in August. The right-hander went 9-1 (including playoffs) and was named ALCS MVP after allowing just one run in 16 innings against the Yankees. While it's too early to know what type of impact the three prospects will have in Detroit, the deal should always be viewed as a major win in the Space City.
12. Andrew Friedman, Dodgers
Current Role: President of Baseball Ops.
Team During Trade: Tampa Bay Rays
Date of Trade: Jan. 8, 2011
To TB | To CHC |
---|---|
Chris Archer | Matt Garza |
Brandon Guyer | Zac Rosscup |
Robinson Chirinos | Fernando Perez |
Sam Fuld | |
Hak-Ju Lee |
Long before Archer established himself as the Rays' ace, he was acquired with four other prospects in exchange for the highly sought-after Garza. While Garza did pitch well for Chicago (3.45 ERA over 60 starts), he didn't have the same type of impact Archer has had in Tampa; the right-hander has made 162 appearances for the Rays, earning two All-Star appearances and a top-five Cy Young finish in 2015. Guyer also became a solid utility man, appearing in more than 300 games.
11. Dayton Moore, Royals
Current Role: Senior VP - Baseball Ops./General Manager
Team During Trade: Kansas City Royals
Date of Trade: Dec. 19, 2010
To KC | To MIL |
---|---|
Lorenzo Cain | Zack Greinke |
Jake Odorizzi | Yuniesky Betancourt |
Alcides Escobar | |
Jeremy Jeffress |
Part of the core that helped the Royals win the 2015 World Series can be traced back to the Greinke trade. With the Brewers going for it in 2011, they shipped four prospects to Kansas City for the right-hander. The Royals wouldn't know it at the time, but they just landed two players that would help hoist the Commissioner's Trophy. Cain and Escobar each spent seven seasons with the Royals, while Odorizzi was eventually flipped for Wade Davis. Greinke made 49 starts for the Brewers and was a nice addition, but KC would not have won the World Series without this deal.