Marlins' all-time Top 5 in-season trades
Will the Marlins swing a deal before the July 31 Trade Deadline? Sometimes it takes years to determine how well a team did in a trade. With the benefit of hindsight, the following are the five most notable trades in franchise history that were conducted during the regular season, according to Joe Frisaro. Agree? Disagree? Comment below:
1) July 27, 1997: INF Craig Counsell from Rockies for RHP Mark Hutton
The Marlins had a veteran team, but an inexperienced second baseman at the time in Luis Castillo. Because Castillo labored on a team primed to win, Counsell was brought in from Colorado. He provided a spark and ended up scoring the biggest run in franchise history. In Game 7 vs. the Indians, Counsell leaped across home plate on Edgar Renteria's single to center, giving the Marlins their first World Series title.
2) July 11, 2003: RHP Ugueth Urbina from Rangers for INF Adrian Gonzalez, OF Will Smith, RHP Ryan Snare
Rolling the dice, the Marlins parted with Adrian Gonzalez, a future All-Star first baseman, to acquire a rental in Urbina. It was a huge move that panned out for the Marlins, because they went on to win the second World Series in franchise history. Urbina was regarded as the top reliever on the market that year, and he solidified the bullpen.
Urbina closed out the ninth inning in Game 7 of the National League Championship Series against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. And he was on the mound in the NL Division Series when Jeff Conine threw out San Francisco's J.T. Snow at the plate in a famous finale, where catcher Ivan Rodriguez held onto the ball after the collision, advancing the Marlins in the playoffs.
3) June 24, 1993: Marlins acquire INF Gary Sheffield and LHP Rich Rodriguez from Padres for RHP Trevor Hoffman, RHP Andres Berumen and RHP Jose Martinez
In their inaugural season, the Marlins made a statement by acquiring young slugger Gary Sheffield. It turned out being a monster deal because they parted with Trevor Hoffman, who became MLB's all-time saves leader.
Sheffield gave the franchise a rising star who played a key role in the progression of the club to World Series champions four years later.
4) Aug. 31, 2003: INF/OF Jeff Conine from the Orioles for RHP Denny Bautista, RHP Don Levinski
In contention for the NL Wild Card, the Marlins received a blow on Aug. 30 when All-Star third baseman Mike Lowell suffered a broken bone in his left hand after getting hit by a pitch. Desperate to find a veteran to help pick up the slack, Conine was acquired from the Orioles right on Aug. 31, the deadline in the waiver Trade Deadline period.
Conine became a big part of the club's push to win the 2003 World Series championship.
5) July 21, 1997: C Darren Daulton from Phillies for INF Billy McMillon
In Daulton, the Marlins acquired a clubhouse leader and veteran presence who played a major role in the club winning the '97 World Series. It was his stature with the team that stood out even more than his numbers, as he played some outfield and first base on a team that had Charles Johnson as its regular catcher.