The Big Deal

What do the following players have in common?Kevin MillarCurt SchillingDoug Mirabelli (the Padre)J.D. DrewJulio LugoDaisuke MatsuzakaLars AndersonEach of these players is a player who Theo Epstein wanted, badly. Some more famously than others and with mixed results across the board but these were players that Theo Epstein felt a strong inclination to acquire.It’s forgotten now but the Kevin Millar acquisition was very contentious with trans-Pacific implications. Mirabelli was of course acquired in an infamous deal and Anderson was an 18th round selection who had first round talent (and required appropriate renumeration).In all of these instances Theo Epstein got his man. In fact I would argue that of the players Theo has been truly desirous of the only time he did not get his man was in the Teixeira chase. Even in that instance he went much more vigorously after him than I think any of us were anticipating he would before finally being outbid.I bring this up because of the recent st...