It’s not always fair to judge baseball operations leaders for free agent signings. In many cases, the biggest contracts are negotiated to varying extents by ownership. The same can hold true of major extensions. It’s just tough to know from the outside.
There’s obviously involvement from above in trade scenarios as well. But, when it comes to exchanging rights to some players for others, it stands to reason the role of the general manager is all the more clear.
In any event, for what it’s worth, it seemed an opportune moment to take a look back at the trade track records of some of the general managers around the game. After covering the Diamondbacks’ Mike Hazen, former Astros GM Jeff Luhnow, the Brewers’ David Stearns, and the Angels’ Billy Eppler, let’s head to Denver to look at Rockies GM Jeff Bridich. Since he was promoted to the job in October 2014, here are Bridich’s trades (in chronological order and excluding minor deals; full details at transaction link.)
2014-15 Offseason
- Acquired RHP Shane Carle from Pirates for RHP Rob Scahill
- Acquired OF Noel Cuevas from Dodgers for RHP Juan Nicasio (Cuevas was a player to be named later, officially acquired a month after Nicasio was dealt)
- Acquired RHP Austin House and cash considerations from Athletics for 1B/OF Mark Canha (Rockies had selected Canha from Marlins in the 2014 Rule 5 Draft)
- Acquired RHP Jairo Diaz from Angels for IF Josh Rutledge
- Acquired RHPs David Hale and Gus Schlosser from Braves for C Jose Briceno and C Chris O’Dowd
2015 Season
- Acquired SS Jose Reyes and RHPs Jeff Hoffman, Miguel Castro, and Jesus Tinoco from Blue Jays for SS Troy Tulowitzki and RHP LaTroy Hawkins
2015-16 Offseason
- Acquired RHP Yency Almonte from White Sox for RHP Tommy Kahnle
- Acquired LHP Wander Cabrera from Cubs for LHP Rex Brothers
- Acquired LHP Jake McGee and RHP German Marquez from Rays for OF Corey Dickerson and 3B Kevin Padlo
2016-17 Offseason
- Acquired RHP James Farris and $255K in international bonus slot money from Cubs for RHP Eddie Butler
2017 Season
- Acquired RHP Jon Keller from Orioles for RHP Miguel Castro (Keller was a player to be named later, officially acquired six months after Castro was dealt)
- Acquired LHP Zac Rosscup from Cubs for RHP Matt Carasiti
- Acquired RHP Pat Neshek from Phillies for IF Jose Gomez and RHPs J.D. Hammer and Alejandro Requena
- Acquired C Jonathan Lucroy from Rangers for OF Pedro Gonzalez (Gonzalez was a player to be named later, officially sent to Texas a month after Lucroy was dealt)
2018 Season
- Acquired RHP Seunghwan Oh from Blue Jays for 1B Chad Spanberger, 2B/OF Forrest Wall, and RHP Bryan Baker
- Acquired C Drew Butera and cash considerations from Royals for LHP Jerry Vasto
2018-19 Offseason
- Acquired LHP Phillip Diehl from Yankees for OF Mike Tauchman
2019 Season
- Acquired LHP James Pazos from Phillies for IF Hunter Stovall
- Acquired RHP Joe Harvey from Yankees for LHP Alfredo Garcia
2019-20 Offseason
- None
How would you grade Bridich’s history in trades? (Poll link for app users)[polldaddy poll=10528063]
You know lately I’ve been buying the generic brand of wax beans. I tear the label off. I can’t tell the difference.
Pretty dim trade history. Has any of these traded yielded something decent?
Marguez is really good.
Lucroy has a good year.
Else, nothing.
Had a chance to win the Division in 2018, and sat on hit backside, and did nothing.
Terrible GM.
Presenting the worst GM in baseball…
Seriously, have you looked at the nightmare named Al Avila???
I have. And he’s not worse. He may be 29th out of 30, but at least he can come up with SOME wins in trades and most of all…
ACTUALLY DOES SOMETHING IN THE OFFSEASON.
Has Avila been that bad? Other then misreading the market on Fullmer and Boyd whats he done wrong? Rebuild looks like its coming along pretty good.
Traded Verlander, JD Martinez, Ian Kinsler, Shane Greene… and received, essentially, nothing. Anyone they got back with any talent has been injured and unable to contribute.
Dave Stewart and A. J. Preller say hi.
Dave Stewart isn’t a GM anymore, and although Preller has had some pretty bad transactions he did a damn good job assembling a fantastic farm and a young core for the Padres. He’s got the Bridich level of signings, but definitely not as bad in trades and minor league assembling.
1 good trade in all those years! One hell of a General Manager Colorado has!
Rockies don’t trade, as a rule. They trade less than any team in baseball, by a wide margin, and the owner (who is the real problem IMO) has said several times that he hates trades in principle, considers them disloyal to his “children” (yes, he has referred to his young players and prospects that way), and regularly vetoes them from his position as President of the team. I’m not entirely sure how much is Bridich’s fault.
This makes a bit more sense. I’ve been confused for the longest time what in the world the Rockies are doing with their franchise and the direction they’re going. Well with the way Briddich handled the whole Arenado fiasco, it’s still partially his fault unless he’s a total owner’s lapdog.
It’s a shame for Rockies fans, because this methodology is literally the opposite of what the Rockies need to be doing. They are a horrendously unattractive free agent destination – particularly for pitchers – so trades are really the only remaining option for them to make upgrades.
I mean, as a Dodgers fan, I’ll take it if other teams don’t want to be competitive in that division..but as a baseball fan, it kinda sucks.
He hasn’t acquired much, hasn’t given up much. Kind of…blah. Padlo to TB could come back and bite him though. Other than that, nothing to see here.
That’s his one win getting German Marquez! Don’t you dare say the Rays are going to take it from him!
Rays wouldve done well to keep Dickerson.
One of the most boring general manager profiles out there.
The inability to make deals at the deadline, either for reinforcement down the stretch or selling off assets in down seasons, has been a big hinderance to the success of the club
The Marquez trade was the best one
He didnt keep him long but nothing wrong with Neshek
Jeff Bridich has managed to not draft well, trade well, sign free agents well, and let his major league team erode away from being a fringe contender to a 75-80 win club! It’s truly been amazing to see the work this man has done!
He hasnt made much trades, but I’ll say the trades he has made; some of them worked out pretty damn well
Hold up. “Some of them” equals only the Marquez trades. None of the other ones were very notable.
There’s also jairo diaz. I think the Phillip Diehl and james Pazos trades can work out too in their favor
The diehl one seems unlikely given how productive Mike Tauchmann had been for NYY
I doubt tauchmann will have as much success as he did last year. I’ll be happy if he does though.
His best trade in five years was getting a #3 starter. Ouch.
His best trade was getting rid of Tulo’s contract
Jeff should volunteer to join the Tiger’s front office. That group in addition to having seats the furthest back of any team, actually wants to put seats outside the stadium. Next they will probably have fans come on off days to watch the grass grow. Just goes to show you why staff stays in power despite losing records, year after year.
So, when all of these polls are done shall there be a post rating the gms based upon the fan vote?
Yeah!
F for trading mike tauchman
This Yankees fan loves Mike Tauchman!
I do
As a Jays fan, Tulowitzki may look like a disappointment but the excitement created by the trade and two years of playoffs was well worth it.
Recall too where Reyes’s performance and reputation were headed both on the field and off.
When Reyes was gone and Tulo was in, the Jays took off. Then David Price took them to another level. Would have never made the postseason with Reyes.
Arenado sad = F++++++
You linked to the wrong Bryan Baker
Bridich’s trades are terrible, but they shine compared to free agen signings.