On July 26th, 2008 the Pittsburgh Pirates and the New York Yankees pulled off a multi-player deal just five days before the trade deadline. Now three years later, we can get a better look at who really came out ahead in the deal.
With center fielders' Melky Cabrera and Brett Gardner under performing, the Yankees were looking to upgrade their outfield, while also in the market for a left-handed reliever at the back end of their bullpen.
The Yankees had pulled within three games of first place in the AL East at the time of the trade, after trailing by as many as nine games on July 4th. They hoped shoring up two of their weaknesses would put them over the top.
They found a trade partner in the Pirates and managed to kill two birds with one stone, acquiring corner outfielder Xavier Nady and setup reliever Damaso Marte for a package of four prospects.
Nady went on to take over as the team's everyday left fielder, hitting .268 with 12 HR, 40 RBI in 228 at-bats. Marte joined the bullpen and posted a disappointing 5.40 ERA in 25 appearances spanning 18.1 innings.
At the end of the day, the Yankees finished 89-73, good for third in the AL East as they did the unthinkable and missed the playoffs. Nady was with the team one more season, missing most of it with an injury, while Marte recorded a 6.39 ERA over the next two seasons before retiring at the end of 2010.
Flash forward to 2011, and one of the surprise stories in all of baseball is the play of the Pirates, who took a 47-43 record into the All-Star break, their best mark since the 1992 season. While it is thanks in large part to their dedication to building from within, the 2008 trade is also to thank, as all four players have contributed this season as follows.
Ross Ohlendorf: He made the most immediate impact of anyone in the trade. He started five games down the stretch in 2008, then went 11-10 in 2009 before a disastrous 1-11 record last season cost him his rotation spot. He has spent the majority of 2011 on the disabled list, making just two starts on the season and posting a 7.27 ERA. He has made by far the smallest impact in 2011 of anyone in the deal.
Daniel McCutchen: He joined the big league club in 2009, making six starts with a respectable 4.21 ERA. However, he was terrible in 2010, appearing in 28 games, nine of which were starts, and logging a 6.12 ERA in 67.2 innings. This season, however, has been a different story, as he has settled into a setup role and been fantastic. He has appeared in 38 games spanning 46.2 innings with a 2.31 ERA.
Jeff Karstens: He appeared in 15 games, nine starts, for the Yankees in 2006 and 2007, going 3-5 with a 5.65 ERA in the process. He made nine starts for the Pirates after the trade in 2008 and went 2-6 with a 4.03 ERA, as he showed that he at least belonged at the big league level.
Over the past two seasons, he has bounced between the rotation and bullpen, making 65 appearances, of which 32 were starts, and he has been unimpressive overall with a 7-16 record and a 5.15 ERA. The 2011 season, however, has been a revelation as he has gone 7-4 with a 2.55 ERA in 15 starts, cementing his place in the rotation.
Jose Tabata: He was the centerpiece of the deal, as he was ranked as the 37th overall prospect by Baseball America entering the 2008 season. He made his debut for the Pirates last year at the age of 21 and hit .299 with 4 HR, 35 RBI, 19 SB in 405 at-bats to finish eighth in NL Rookie of the Year voting. He opened this season as the everyday left fielder, and his speed has been on display once again, although he has recently landed on the 15-day disabled list. He should be a staple in the Pirates' outfield for years to come.
Over the years, the Pirates have been on the wrong end of some terrible trades. However, this particular deal is a home run for Pittsburgh and is part of the reason they have been so successful this season. The fact that the Yankees did not make the playoffs, combined with the emergence of all four players, puts this in the running for best trade in Pirates history.
Vanessa Simmons Chyler Leigh Julie Berry Lori Heuring Nicole Scherzinger
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