Revisiting Arguably the Dumbest 3-Team Trade in MLB History Among the Mets, Mariners and Indians

There really hasn't been a better time to evaluate outdated MLB trades than the present, where the baseball news cycle has decayed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic that's been sweeping the nation and the world. Let's take it back to December of 2008, when the New York Mets, Seattle Mariners and Cleveland Indians were involved in perhaps the most dopey three-team deal in the history of the MLB.

Shortly after signing star closer Francisco Rodriguez to a three-year contract, the Mets acquired reliever JJ Putz from Seattle as part of a blockbuster three-team, 12-player trade. New York dealt six players to the Mariners, as well as one to the Indians.

According to FOXsports.com, the Mets are talking with the Mariners and Indians about a 12-player trade that would bring J.J. Putz to Queens.
— Mike Puma (@NYPost_Mets) December 11, 2008

December 2008 Mets, Mariners, and Indians Three-Team Trade Details

Mets Received: JJ Putz, Jeremy Reed, Sean Green

Mariners Received: Franklin Gutierrez, Endy Chavez, Jason Vargas, Aaron Heilman, Mike Carp, Maikel Cleto, and Ezequiel Carrera

Indians Received: Joe Smith and the late Luis Valbuena

Bruh.

This was so complicated and it just didn't have to come to that. Is it fair to just call this trade a wash? Since no team really "won" this trade, let's highlight the biggest loser: the Mets.

New York really pressed the issue to acquire Putz, an All-Star in 2007 with Seattle who also combatted elbow and rib cage injuries that season. The former Reliever of the Year was a disaster for the Amazins in 2009, as he made just 29 appearances and registered a 5.22 ERA. Putz spent one season in Queens, and was later signed by the Chicago White Sox, where he ironically logged a 2.83 ERA across 60 appearances in 2010.

December 10, 2008: In a 12-player, three-team trade, the @Mets trade Aaron Heilman, Endy Chavez and Jason Vargas to the @Mariners for J.J. Putz, Jeremy Reed and Sean Green. The @Indians send Franklin Gutierrez to Seattle and acquire Joe Smith and Luis Valbuena. pic.twitter.com/JHbhaI1gxL
— Mets Rewind (@metsrewind) December 10, 2018

Who Won the Trade?

As previously stated, the Metropolitans aren't in contention for the W.

Smith turned into a nice reliever for the Indians, but Valbuena struggled to hit over .230 with the franchise, so you can't really say that Cleveland reaped many benefits.

The Mariners, might have won this deal if only for the fact that they received adequate production from most of the players they received, particularly Gutierrez, Chavez, and Vargas. Again, we do not say that with much conviction. The fact of the matter is that this trade was as bizarre as any in baseball history, and it really just wasn't necessary.