Thanksgiving isn’t usually a barnburner of a day as far as baseball transactions are concerned, but that’s pattern more than rule. Most years something official happens along the lines of Matt Skole signing with the White Sox in 2019 or Jason Lane signing with the Padres in 2014 – but three years in particular gave us a heaping portion of baseball news befitting turkey day: 2005, 2007, 2009. While we wait to see what happens this year, let’s go back and look at some of the most impactful moves made on Thanksgiving day.
- Last year was a quiet Thanksgiving day, but there was plenty to talk about. If you recall, we were just one day removed from the four-player Brewers/Padres swap that saw Trent Grisham and Zach Davies land in San Diego. MLBTR readers weighed in on Thanksgiving with more people preferring the Brewers’ side of the deal. The Brew Crew landed promising infielder Luis Urías and potential rotation arm Eric Lauer. A year removed, my guess is the public sentiment may have changed. This one might need more time to gestate, however, before a final determination can be made.
- On this same date and day in history, the Cleveland Indians signed an amateur free agent that changed the fortunes of their franchise. Jose Ramirez – a 17-year-old amateur free agent out of Dominican Republic – signed on Thursday, November 26, 2009. He would debut in the Majors just four years later as a 20-year-old.
- On the same day, the Toronto Blue Jays struck in free agency signing shortstop Álex González to a free agent contract. Of course, this isn’t the Alex Gonzalez most Blue Jays fans will remember best. This A-Gon spent just a few months north of the border. He was traded to the Braves on July 14th of the following season as part of a four-player deal that sent Yunel Escobar and Jo-Jo Reyes to Toronto. Escobar would net 8.6 bWAR across 2 1/2 seasons with the Jays, while Reyes would be claimed off waivers by the Orioles later that season.
- In 2007, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim invested heavily in a free agent centerfielder who had spent the entirety of his career to that point in the Twin Cities. Torii Hunter signed for $89.5MM over five years to roam the grass in Anaheim. He’d win two Gold Gloves and make two All-Star teams while racking up 20.7 bWAR as an Angel. They got their money’s worth as Hunter would post the best two seasons of his career by bWAR while with the Angels (2009, 2012).
- The Cincinnati Reds signed Miguel Rojas as an amateur free agent on November 24, 2005. Rojas would stay in the Reds’ minor league system for a full six seasons before being granted free agency and joining the Dodgers in 2012.
- That same season, the Marlins did some work with two significant trades on Thanksgiving. The first sent Carlos Delgado and cash to the Mets for Grant Psomas, Mike Jacobs and Yusmeiro Petit. Delgado spent just one season in Florida, but he did grab a 6th-place MVP finish that year for slashing .301/.399/.582 with 33 bombs.
- Their other deal helped bring the second title of the century to the Red Sox. The Fish traded Josh Beckett, Mike Lowell and Guillermo Mota to Boston for Jesus Delgado, Harvey Garcia, Hanley Ramirez and Anibal Sanchez. Sanchez would have a number of solid years with the Fish, while Hanley Ramirez developed into a cornerstone shortstop and the face of the franchise.
Without Beckett and Lowell the Red Sox do not win the 2007 WS.
Beckett 20-7, era 3.27, whip 1.13, 2nd in Cy Young voting, 4-0 in the playoffs 1.20 era
Mike Lowell – RBIs 120, BA.324, HR 21, 2B 37, WS MVP
If memory serves me Mota was flipped to Cleveland as part of the deal to get Coco Crisp.
What about Theo Epstein having Thanksgiving dinner with the Schilling family, 2003?
My bad, the trade actually happened the day after Thanksgiving, I guess the Thanksgiving meal was to negotiate the no trade clause
John Henry wanted Schilling; Theo was just the errand boy. Or do you think every GM spends 10M of his owner’s money (not to mention the turkey) without said owner urging him on.
CLOSE ENOUGH!!!! ENOUGH ALREADY VOTE CURT IN!!!
The list of HOF candidates is pretty thin this year. Schilling should get in as there are not very many deserving on the list.
Only kent should get elected
Schilling is not a hall of fame player
Maybe not, but he will still be voted into the Hall of Fame and will be able to call himself a “Hall of Famer” forever.
As a Yankee fan,I admit that the AZ Thanksgiving was epic for the Sox. Probably no WS titles until the last 2.
It was a major push for that organization. That and not landing A-Roid.
gee, go figure the Padres won that trade
Thanks so much for that valuable analysis.
you gotta get a hobby man
Urias might break out and start hitting at the major league level, while Lauer might actually beat someone besides the Dodgers one of these days. But so far it looks like getting Grisham and Davies was a steal for SD.
I have never seen a team so feeble like the Dodgers vs Lauer’s backdoor cutter.
@DrDan
That’s a clown comment bro.
My friends uncle who works for the Nats organization said that the Nats will dump lots of money for DJ.
Oh ok I wish something more would happen so far a boring offseason ..I do like the Braves getting Morton
No mention of the Ketel trade?
That’s what I came to say! Haniger, Pazos, and Segura to Seattle for Taijuan Walker and Ketel Marte
Torii was such a gift. Great player, tons of community work, and that ever present smile. Was also a great mentor for a young Trout.
He would be a awesome coach with the Angels.
A gift in which Arte out bid himself by almost $30 million and that came a year after signing Gary Matthews Jr. to a $50 million contract
JoJo Reyes might have been the worst MLB pitcher I’ve ever seen!!!
Does Hunter belong in the Hall of Fame? His numbers are similar to baines and hunter played excellent defense.
I think Andruw Jones trumps Hunter. That’s the comparison. Torii was very very good. Andruw is getting little support so far.
Jeff Kent should definitely be voted into the HOF. Lifetime .290 hitter with with 377 HR. Pretty darn good numbers for a middle infielder. If Joe Morgan’s numbers merit induction, then Kent should be a shoe-in. Schilling? I’m 50/50 about him making it. But probably deserves admission. Damn good post-season numbers vs. some very good opponents.