MLB News

Home

Teams

Quizzes

Watch

Newsletter

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Luis Castillo (58) during the seventh inning against the Houston Astros at T-Mobile Park. Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

Best MLB trades from the last decade: American League

By David Hill, Seth Carlson, Allen Settle | Last updated Aug 4, 2025 1:26 PM ET

With MLB's trade deadline now behind us, Yardbarker's MLB writers got together this week to identify the best trade each club has made in the last decade (more or less).

(Records and stats are entering play on Monday.)

AL East

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (41) pitches during the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park in 2023. Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images

Baltimore Orioles (51-61) | LHP Erik Bedard to the Mariners for a package including OF Adam Jones and RHP Chris Tillman | February 2008 |

Bedard had a solid five-year run with the Orioles, pitching to a 3.83 during his Baltimore tenure. That was enough to entice the Seattle Mariners to trade a package that featured future All-Stars Adam Jones and Chris Tillman to Baltimore, who would help lead the Orioles to three playoff appearances between 2010 and 2016.

Boston Red Sox (62-51) | LHP Chris Sale to the Red Sox for INF Yoan Moncada, RHPs Michael Kopech and Victor Diaz, and outfielder Luis Alexander Basabe | December 2016 |

Sale, who had been the Chicago White Sox’s ace, was dealt to the Red Sox in December 2016 for a package headlined by then-top prospect Yoan Moncada, who never met the hype on the South Side. And while Michael Kopech has found some success (now with the L.A. Dodgers), it was the Red Sox who won this trade, as Sale’s dominant 2018 led to Boston’s fourth championship in the 21st century.

New York Yankees (60-52) | LHP Aroldis Chapman to the Cubs for INF Gleyber Torres, OFs Billy McKinney and Rashad Crawford, and RHP Adam Warren | July 2016 |

The 2016 trade deadline was one of Yankees’ GM Brian Cashman’s finer bodies of work, resetting his club ahead of a sustained run that dates back to 2017. One of those 2016 trades sent flamethrowing closer Aroldis Chapman to the Chicago Cubs for infield prospect Gleyber Torres. And while Torres was solid during his Yankees’ tenure (they seem to miss him in 2025), it was the fact that Cashman brought Chapman back as a free agent that winter that made this trade a true stroke of genius.

Tampa Bay Rays (55-58 ) | RHP Chris Archer to the Pirates for RHPs Tyler Glasnow, Shane Baz and OF Austin Meadows | July 2018 |

In one of the most infamous heists of the last decade, the Pittsburgh Pirates attempted to keep their closing window of contention alive by trading for Tampa’s ace righty, Chris Archer. Unfortunately, that deal backfired in a big way for the Pirates, as the Rays developed both Glasnow and Baz into dominant pitchers, while Austin Meadows was productive at times for Tampa as well. Perhaps the most egregious part of this trade, though, was Baz being revealed as the “player to be named later.”

Toronto Blue Jays (65-48) | 3B Josh Donaldson to the Blue Jays for 3B Brett Lawrie, RHP Kendall Graveman, LHP Sean Nolin and infield prospect Franklin Barreto | November 2014 |

Josh Donaldson was the catalyst behind two excellent Blue Jays teams in 2015 and 2016, winning the MVP in the former year. Meanwhile, the player package Toronto sent back to the Athletics was nothing short of an abomination for the latter, resulting in a clear Blue Jays victory that may very well be one of their best trades of all time, let alone of the last decade (more or less). -- Seth Carlson

AL Central

American League pitcher Joe Ryan (41) of the Minnesota Twins pitches during the fourth inning of the 2025 MLB All-Star Game at Truist Park. Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images

Chicago White Sox (42-70) | LHP Jose Quintana to the Cubs for OF Eloy Jimenez and RHP Dylan Cease | July 2017 |

Quintana was solid for the Cubs and a key part of their postseason roster in 2017. However, the White Sox received a top-of-the-rotation arm and a solid bat for the middle of the lineup, both of whom were instrumental in the White Sox's resurgence in the early 2020s.

Cleveland Guardians (56-55) | RHP Jake Westbrook to the Cardinals in a three-team deal for Padres' RHP Corey Kluber | July 2010 |

Kluber was a steal for Cleveland — a three-time All-Star and two-time AL Cy Young award winner — who was one of the best pitchers of the 2010s. His departure also worked out in the Guardians’ favor as he was sent to Texas for closer Emmanuel Clase after an injury-plagued 2019 season.

Detroit Tigers (65-48) | 1B Prince Fielder and cash considerations to the Rangers for 2B Ian Kinsler | November 2013 |

Fielder lasted parts of three seasons in Texas before back issues sapped his power and forced him to step away from the game. Kinsler, meanwhile, was a catalyst for the Tigers, making the 2014 All-Star Game and winning a Gold Glove in 2016 as his all-around performance made a tremendous impact in Detroit.

Kansas City Royals (56-56) | RHP Cody Reed and LHPs Brandon Finnegan and John Lamb to the Reds for RHP Johnny Cueto | July 2016 |

While other trades have had far more of a long-lasting impact, there is no denying what Cueto meant to the Royals during his brief time in Kansas City. He immediately became the Royals’ ace and stepped up when the lights were at their brightest, holding the Mets to just two hits in a complete game victory in Game 2 of the World Series.

Minnesota Twins (52-59) | DH Nelson Cruz and RHP Calvin Faucher to the Rays for RHP Joe Ryan | July 2021 |

Cruz provided the Rays with needed power for the 2021 stretch run, but the price proved to be high. Ryan has begun to establish himself as a top-of-the-rotation starter, something that the completely depleted Twins could build around once new ownership takes over. -- David Hill

AL West

Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander (35) walks onto the field before the game against the Los Angeles Angels at Minute Maid Park in 2024. Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Athletics (49-65) | RHPs Nolan Blackwood and Logan Shore to the Tigers for RHP Mike Fiers | August 2018 |

While the majority of the Athletics' best trades happened before 2010, adding Mike Fiers did provide an important boost to the franchise. The starter was a postseason anchor, going 5-2 with a 3.74 ERA in 10 October games with Oakland.

Houston Astros (62-50) | RHP Franklin Perez, OF Daz Cameron, and C Jake Rogers to the Tigers for RHP Justin Verlander and OF Juan Ramirez | August 2017 |

The Astros made the ultimate power move in 2017 by sending three prospects to Detroit in exchange for future Hall-of-Famer Justin Verlander. The ace would lead Houston to the World Series title in 2022 while adding two Cy Young awards along the way (2019, 2022).

Los Angeles Angels (54-58) | LHP Sean Newcomb, RHP Chris Ellis, and IF Erick Aybar to the Braves for SS Andrelton Simmons and C Jose Briceno | November 2015 |

The Angels added a franchise shortstop by acquiring Andrelton Simmons (and catcher Jose Briceno) for three minor leaguers in 2015. Simmons would go on to become a four-time Gold Glove winner and is widely considered to be one of the best defensive shortstops in MLB history.

Seattle Mariners (60-53) | IFs Edwin Arroyo and Noelvi Marte and RHPs Andrew Moore and Levi Stoudt to the Reds for RHP Luis Castillo | July 2022 |

Adding Luis Castillo was a true deadline splash for the Mariners. The ace was a one-time All-Star before the move and would go on to make two more appearances as a Mariner (2022-2023).

Texas Rangers (58-55) | Traded six minor leaguers to the Phillies for LHP Cole Hamels, LHP Jake Diekman and cash considerations | July 2015 |

Texas sent a massive package of C Jorge Alfaro, OF Nick Williams and RHPs Jake Thompson, Alec Asher, Jerad Eickhoff and Matt Harrison to the Phillies for southpaws Hamels and Diekman. While none of the prospects were able to carve out meaningful careers, Hamels helped lead Texas to back-to-back division crowns from 2015 to 2016. -- Allen Settle

David Hill

Based in the mountains of Vermont, Dave has over a decade of experience writing about all things baseball. Just don't ask his thoughts on the universal DH.

Seth Carlson

Seth Carlson is an experienced writer and editor based in the NYC area with a particular love for all things baseball. He has a demonstrated history of delivering insightful analysis and engaging content across multiple outlets and industries. Seth brings his expertise and commitment to high-quality coverage to Yardbarker’s readers.

Allen Settle

Allen Settle is a lifelong baseball fan who has never given up on his passion. You can find his writing at Yardbarker and Prospects1500. He is a former writer at Fansided’s Marlin Maniac and Rising Apple

More must-reads: