Top franchise players who were dealt

Juan Soto is the biggest reminder yet: even a franchise player can be traded.

A team trading its franchise player is hardly an unprecedented event in baseball history -- even recent history. But that doesn't mean it's not difficult.

There's no exact definition of "franchise player," of course, but these are the special talents who break into the Majors with an organization, develop into stars there and help carry their team to greater heights. There are plenty of on-field reasons not to deal such a player, not to mention emotional and sentimental ones. It's not easy to send away someone who has meant so much to a team and city.

But other considerations can ultimately outweigh those, including contract situations, the wishes of the player and where a franchise stands in its competitive cycle at a particular time. With Soto dealt from the Nationals to the Padres at the 2022 Trade Deadline, here's a look back at the most notable examples of trades involving franchise players.

For our purposes here, we're excluding "rental" deals made at the Trade Deadline right before a player reached free agency, such as last summer's Kris Bryant swap (Cubs to Giants) or the Manny Machado exchange from 2018 (Orioles to Dodgers).

August 2022: Nationals trade OF Juan Soto to Padres

It's the biggest trade in Deadline history. Soto, just 23 years old, one of baseball's elite players and a potential generational superstar, was traded by the franchise he led to its first World Series title in 2019. Soto was signed by the Nationals as a 16-year-old out of the Dominican Republic in 2015, debuted at age 19 and quickly became one of the best players in baseball. He finished as the 2018 National League Rookie of the Year runner-up, made two All-Star teams, won two Silver Slugger Awards and one batting title and was a 2021 NL MVP finalist with Washington. But after Soto reportedly turned down the Nats' 15-year, $440 million extension offer, he became available. The Padres' blockbuster trade for Soto at the 2022 Deadline, which involved sending five current and former top prospects to Washington (C.J. Abrams, MacKenzie Gore, Robert Hassell III, James Wood and Jarlin Susana), dwarfed even the other biggest Trade Deadline deals -- like the Angels trading for Mark Teixeira in 2008 and the Astros trading for Randy Johnson in 1998.

February 2021: Rockies trade 3B Nolan Arenado to Cardinals

There was some history repeating itself here, as this deal came only a couple of years after St. Louis grabbed another franchise player from an NL West club (see below). But this one was a little different. Often, when franchise players are traded, it's because that franchise is not able to sign them long term. But in this case, Colorado already had done that, inking Arenado to an eight-year extension during Spring Training in 2019. Yet, less than two years later, the relationship between the two sides had broken down enough (among other complications) that the Rockies not only shipped Arenado to St. Louis but also included significant cash in the deal. In return for a five-time All-Star and eight-time Gold Glove Award winner, the Cardinals gave up a package of five young players headlined by left-hander Austin Gomber.

January 2021: Indians trade SS Francisco Lindor to Mets

This one had seemed inevitable for a while, as Lindor was hurtling toward free agency at the end of the 2021 season, and Cleveland had not shown an inclination to put forth the resources necessary to keep him past that point. Instead, this was an opportunity to restock. The Mets, with new and deep-pocketed owner Steve Cohen in the fold, made for an opportune partner. That didn't mean it was easy for Cleveland, which had drafted Lindor eighth overall in 2011 and watched "Mr. Smile" blossom into a four-time All-Star who helped the club to four postseason appearances, including Game 7 of the 2016 World Series. In fact, Cleveland president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti said he "was in tears" as he informed Lindor and pitcher Carlos Carrasco that they had been sent to the Mets in a deal involving young infielders Amed Rosario and Andrés Giménez.

February 2020: Red Sox trade OF Mookie Betts to Dodgers

A little more than one year earlier, Betts was helping the Red Sox close out the 2018 World Series championship at Dodger Stadium and was on his way to earning the AL MVP Award. It was hard to imagine that he would be playing anywhere else anytime soon. And yet, that's exactly what happened. By the winter of 2019-20, Betts was one season away from free agency, and Boston apparently was not prepared to do what it took to keep the four-time All-Star at Fenway Park. The result was, eventually, a trade. But it wasn't easy. A first version of the deal, which also involved the Twins, fell through in the medical review stage. Eventually though, the Dodgers completed separate trades with Boston and Minnesota, landing Betts and pitcher David Price from the Red Sox, who acquired young outfielder Alex Verdugo, shortstop prospect Jeter Downs and catching prospect Connor Wong.

December 2018: D-backs trade 1B Paul Goldschmidt to Cardinals

Goldschmidt departed the desert only after cementing his place as the best position player in the franchise's young history. Blossoming from an eighth-round pick in the 2009 Draft into a six-time All-Star and three-time top-three National League MVP finisher, Goldy left as the D-backs' all-time leader in OBP (.398), slugging (.532), OPS+ (145), walks (655), and bWAR for position players (39.9). He also won three Gold Glove Awards at first. But with just one season remaining before the 31-year-old was scheduled to reach free agency, Arizona chose to send him to St. Louis for three young players, including catcher Carson Kelly and pitcher Luke Weaver.

January 2018: Pirates trade OF Andrew McCutchen to Giants

McCutchen, a first-round pick by the Pirates in 2005, came up to the Majors in '09 and became the driving force behind a baseball renaissance in the Steel City. In '13, Cutch took NL MVP honors, as the Bucs won 94 games and made the postseason for the first time since Barry Bonds left following the 1992 season. In McCutchen's nine seasons in Pittsburgh, he was selected to five All-Star teams and finished in the top five in MVP voting four times, while his 203 home runs were the most by a Bucs player over the past 40 years. But like Goldschmidt, McCutchen was dealt ahead of his last year before free agency, in a deal that netted the Pirates a future All-Star outfielder in Bryan Reynolds.

December 2017: Rays trade 3B Evan Longoria to Giants

Longoria had five guaranteed seasons remaining on a contract extension when the Rays traded him to San Francisco for Denard Span and three prospects, not long before the Giants acquired McCutchen. That ended a highly productive tenure with Tampa Bay, which included a franchise-record 50 WAR. Longoria left as the franchise leader in most offensive categories, having helped turn a perennial last-place club into a contender that won 90-plus games five times and made the postseason four times from 2008-13. The Rays reached the World Series in '08, when Longoria took AL Rookie of the Year honors two years after being selected third overall in the Draft.

December 2017: Marlins trade OF Giancarlo Stanton to Yankees

New York landed the reigning NL MVP -- and most of his record-setting contract -- from Miami for Starlin Castro and two prospects. Stanton departed South Florida as the Marlins' record-holder in career WAR (35.1), home runs (267), RBIs (672), slugging percentage (.554) and many other categories. While Stanton's first season with the Yankees wasn't nearly as productive as his last with the Marlins (59 homers), he also reached the postseason for the first time in his career.

August 2017: Tigers trade SP Justin Verlander to Astros

Verlander was 34 years old by the summer of 2017 but was still plenty effective and signed for two more seasons, plus a vesting option for '20. But the Tigers, following an impressive run of success from 2011-14, had missed the playoffs the next two years and were scuffling their way to 98 losses in '17. It was time to regroup, and trading Verlander -- at the absolute last second before the Aug. 31 waiver deadline -- brought back three prospects, including outfielder Daz Cameron. While Verlander would win his first World Series title and second Cy Young Award in Houston, he will go down as arguably the greatest pitcher in Tigers history.

December 2009: Blue Jays trade SP Roy Halladay to Phillies

The late Halladay had produced 48.4 bWAR for Toronto since his 1998 debut -- second in franchise history to Dave Stieb -- over a 12-year tenure that included six All-Star selections and an AL Cy Young Award, but no postseason appearances. After posting a 75-87 record in '09, the Blue Jays embarked upon a rebuilding project that included parting with Halladay for a package of prospects, including catcher Travis d'Arnaud. Halladay, who had one year left on his contract at the time, won the NL Cy Young Award in '10 with the Phillies.

December 2007: Marlins trade 3B Miguel Cabrera to Tigers

It's rare that a player as good and as young as Cabrera gets traded. At this time, he was coming off his age-24 season and in 4 1/2 seasons in the Majors had already won a World Series ring, become a four-time All-Star and established himself as an elite hitting talent (143 OPS+). But the Marlins, a few years after winning the 2003 World Series with Cabrera, were looking to cut payroll. The Tigers initially were not part of the sweepstakes, but at the 2007 Winter Meetings, GM Dave Dombrowski pulled off the deal, which also sent pitcher Dontrelle Willis to Detroit and six players (including Cameron Maybin and Andrew Miller) back to Miami. It was a coup for the Tigers, as Cabrera won two AL MVP Awards and a Triple Crown and reached the 500-homer and 3,000-hit marks in Detroit.

February 2000: Mariners trade OF Ken Griffey Jr. to Reds

Griffey now wears a Seattle cap on his Hall of Fame plaque, but after the 1999 season, he requested a trade, following an 11-year run that included 398 home runs, an AL MVP Award, 10 Gold Glove Awards and a franchise-record 70.7 bWAR. With one year left on his contact, Griffey was sent to Cincinnati. But a bad situation worked out for the Mariners, who got a solid young center fielder in the trade (Mike Cameron) and made the postseason the next two seasons, winning 116 games in '01. After an injury-plagued tenure with the Reds, Griffey returned to finish his career in Seattle from 2009-10.

In 2012, the Mariners also traded away Ichiro Suzuki, another franchise icon who had spent his career with the club. But he was 38 years old at the time and no longer performing near a superstar level, so his trade to the Yankees (for pitchers Danny Farquhar and D.J. Mitchell) did not have quite the same impact as the Griffey blockbuster.

December 1984: Expos trade C Gary Carter to Mets

Carter debuted with Montreal as a 20-year-old in 1974 -- the team's sixth season -- and by the end of '84, he had made seven NL All-Star teams and produced a franchise-record 55.7 bWAR. But the '84 Expos finished in fifth place and subsequently swapped their elite backstop for four players, including shortstop Hubie Brooks. While the Expos never returned to the postseason before leaving Montreal after the 2004 season, Carter helped the Mets win the '86 World Series. He closed out his career back in Montreal in '92 and entered the Hall of Fame wearing an Expos cap in 2003.

This was not the first time another franchise's icon -- and future Hall of Famer -- had been traded to the Mets. On May 11, 1972, the Mets acquired a 41-year-old Willie Mays from the Giants for right-hander Charlie Williams. Mays was well past his prime by then, but he did help New York win the '73 NL pennant.

February 1979: Twins trade 1B Rod Carew to Angels

Carew made the AL All-Star team in each of his 12 seasons in Minnesota and won the 1967 AL Rookie of the Year Award, the '77 AL MVP Award and seven batting titles. But by '79, the Twins had finished third or lower in the AL West for eight straight seasons, and Carew was one year away from free agency. The Angels acquired the sweet-swinging lefty for a four-player package, and Carew finished his career in Anaheim, eclipsing 3,000 hits in 1985. The Hall of Famer's 63.8 bWAR with the Twins has him ahead of Harmon Killebrew for first in franchise history.

June 1977: Mets trade SP Tom Seaver to Reds

Just before the Trade Deadline -- back then it was June 15 -- the last-place Mets shipped off their ace and future Hall of Famer in a highly controversial deal for a quartet of young players. The three-time NL Cy Young Award winner took his talents to the defending World Series-champion Big Red Machine and remained in Cincinnati until a one-year return to Queens in '84. Nearly 40 years after he last pitched for the franchise, Seaver's 79.6 bWAR with the Mets is still nearly double the total of any other pitcher in franchise history.

December 1973: Astros trade OF Jimmy Wynn to Dodgers

Wynn's debut in 1963 came one year after the franchise's inaugural season. Playing in a tough era for hitters and mostly in the cavernous Astrodome, "The Toy Cannon" had seven 20-homer seasons, six 5-WAR seasons and a 131 OPS+ in 11 years with the club. But after he slumped in '73, Houston swapped Wynn for another accomplished veteran, left-handed pitcher Claude Osteen.

December 1971: Angels trade SS Jim Fregosi to Mets

It wasn't until Mike Trout that an Angels position player generated more bWAR for the club than Fregosi's 45.9. Selected from the Red Sox in the 1960 Expansion Draft, Fregosi was still a teenager when he made his debut late in the '61 season, the Halos' first. He became a six-time All-Star, but he began to decline in '71, and the Angels made the decision to ship Fregosi to the Mets for four players. One of them was a young Nolan Ryan, who immediately developed into an All-Star in Anaheim. Fregosi hung on as a player until '78, when he took over as the Angels' manager and led the franchise to its first postseason appearance in '79.

December 1965: Reds trade OF Frank Robinson to Orioles

Robinson spent his first 10 seasons in Cincinnati, winning an NL Rookie of the Year Award and an NL MVP Award, smashing 324 home runs and racking up 63.7 bWAR -- easily a Reds record at the time. Evidently believing Robinson's best days were behind him, the Reds sent the slugger to Baltimore for three players, including two-time All-Star pitcher Milt Pappas. The Orioles got the better end of the deal, as Robinson added an AL MVP trophy to his collection in '66 and Baltimore went to the World Series four times in his six seasons, winning twice. Robinson now wears an Orioles cap on his Hall of Fame plaque.

December 1926: Cardinals trade 2B Rogers Hornsby to Giants

In 13 seasons with St. Louis, Hornsby batted .359 with more than 2,100 hits, and he recorded the final out of Game 7 of the 1926 World Series by tagging out Babe Ruth on an ill-advised steal attempt. But Hornsby's contract talks with the Cardinals fell through, and the club dealt him to New York for pitcher Jimmy Ring and another star second baseman, Frankie Frisch. A future Hall of Famer, Frisch was an MVP winner in '31 and helped the Cardinals win two more World Series championships. Hornsby briefly returned to the Cardinals for part of the '33 season, and only Stan Musial has since exceeded his 90.8 bWAR for the franchise.