No. 22 in an occasional series
The past 6 transactions that involved (arguably) the best pitcher in baseball
Dec. 9, 1992
Greg Maddux leaves Chicago Cubs to sign with Atlanta Braves
Maddux had already won 95 games, three Gold Golves and a Cy Young with the Cubs before signing a $28 million five-year contract with the Braves. He proceeded to win 194 games, 10 Gold Gloves, three Cy Youngs and a World Series with Atlanta.
Nov. 18, 1997
Pedro Martinez traded from Montreal Expos to Boston Red Sox
Pedro won a Cy Young with Montreal in ’97 before being traded to Boston in November for Tony Armas Jr. and Carl Pavano. Martinez signed a six-year, $75 million contract with the Sox and won 117 games, two Cy Youngs and a World Series in Beantown.
Dec. 10, 1998
Randy Johnson leaves Houston Astros to sign with Arizona Diamondbacks
After being shipped from Seattle to Houston halfway through the 1998 season, Johnson struck a four-year, $52.4 million deal with Arizona. He won four Cy Youngs and a World Series over the next four seasons while striking out at least 334 batters in each season.
Dec. 13, 1996
Roger Clemens leaves Boston Red Sox to sign with Toronto Blue Jays
Feb. 18, 1999
Traded from Toronto to Yankees
The Rocket signed a three-year, $24.75 million contract with Toronto before the 1997 season. He won 41 games and two Cy Youngs before getting traded to the Yanks in 1999. Clemens won 77 games, another Cy Young and two World Series rings in his first stint in the Big Apple.
Nov. 24, 2005
Josh Beckett traded from Florida Marlins to Boston Red Sox
On Thanksgiving Day in 2005, Beckett, with Mike Lowell and Guillermo Mota, was traded for a package of prospects that included shortstop Hanley Ramirez. Beckett has won 36 games and a World Series for the BoSox in the two seasons since the trade.
Feb. 1, 2008
Johan Santana traded from Minnesota Twins to Mets
Santana, currently regarded as baseball’s best pitcher, won 93 games and two Cy Youngs in Minnesota. Johan, after being pursued by the Red Sox and Yankees, was traded to the Mets and quickly signed a six-year, $137.5 million contract, the richest ever for a pitcher. Only a World Series win will make this trade successful for the Mets.
(compiled and written by Kyle Stack)
(photos compiled by Tim Fiorvanti)