David Stagg

Scott Rolen is helped off the field by Reds' manager Dusty Baker and head trainer Mark Mann. Photo courtesy of David Kohl/AP.

By Barry Stagg

My brother Barry will occasionally be writing guest posts on my blog. Here, his first contribution with the worst baseball moves as the 2009 baseball season nears the playoffs.

Most everyone is talking about the best trades and acquisitions made this year in baseball. All I hear is Cliff Lee this, Matt Holiday that. As an Astros fan, we had the joy of our blockbuster move—the release of worthless veteran Russ Ortiz (more on him later) and the promotion of prospect Bud Norris. That’s what we like to call addition by subtraction.

But I don’t want to talk about those moves because, quite frankly, I’m not happy with the state of baseball affairs right now. The Yankees and Cardinals are great, while the Nationals have a better second half winning percentage than the Astros: .444 v. .442! I want to be a little negative and comfort myself by talking about the Five Worst Trades and/or Acquisitions this year.

5. Nick Johnson (to the Marlins)/Freddy Sanchez (to the Giants)

Nick Johnson

Freddy Sanchez

Here’s the only number that matters with these two guys: 13. As in the number of games played with their new ball clubs. The moves looked good at the time with both teams needing offensive help. What the Marlins and Giants ultimately did was give up prospects for guys to chill on the DL. If these guys can get healthy in September and produce, they can be taken off this list. But with both players not scheduled to be ready to go when they are eligible to come off the DL, this seems unlikely.

4. John Grabow and Tom Gorzelanny (to the Cubs)

John Grabow

Tom Gorzelanny

This move isn’t here because the players involved in this deal aren’t doing well individually. Grabow hasn’t allowed a run in 13 innings for the Cubs and Gorzelanny has provided solid innings as well. The players the Cubs traded—Kevin Hart and Jose Ascanio—are not faring well at all in Pittsburgh. Hart’s ERA is over 6 and Ascanio is on the DL. In theory, a great trade for the Cubs.

What does give me great pleasure is that, since this move, the Cubs have gone a paltry 11-18 and watched their half game division lead go crashing down to a 10.5-game deficit behind the front-running Cardinals. I guess Hart just made the other players around him want to win, whether he was doing well or not.

3. Russ Ortiz (to the Yankees/Rockies/Chula Vista?)

Russ Ortiz

This is really just time for me to complain about Russ Ortiz. When he was released by the Astros on July 30, he hadn’t won a game as a starter since April 26. In his last 5 starts with the Astros, he pitched 21.1 innings allowing 28 ER. That’s good for an 11.81 ERA! Why any team would even waste a spot on him is beyond me. Instead, the Yankees gave him a minor league spot—but was promptly released. The Rockies were said to be interested, but thought way better of it. He is an ultimate waste of time. (David’s Note: Fall from grace: In 2006, Ortiz made $7,875,000. In 2007? Just $380,000.)

2. Scott Rolen (to the Reds)

Scott Rolen

This was almost my number 1. This move truly, truly baffled me. Look at the Reds: They’re a young team building for the future who aren’t even close to being in the playoff hunt. Why would they trade two young, highly touted pitching prospects in Josh Roenicke and Zach Stewart for a 34-year-old 3B with a history of injuries and is due 11 million dollars in 2010???? I don’t know how Dusty Baker OKed this move. And to add injury to insult, Rolen has already been on the DL since joining the Reds.

1. Jarrod Washburn (to the Tigers)

Jarrod Washburn

And congratulations to the Detroit Tigers for the worst move of the year! You could argue that putting Dontrelle Willis on the mound was the worst move, but trading for Mr. Washburn is inexplicably worse. (This one particularly stings me as I have Washburn on my fantasy team.)

You can’t blame the Tigers for thinking this move would be good as Washburn looked to be making a case for comeback player of the year. He had an 8-6 record and the third lowest ERA (at 2.64) in the hitter-heavy American League at the time of the trade. But since becoming a Tiger, Washburn has posted a 1-2 record with a 6.81 ERA. Ouch! It’s hard to say what the problem is: not as strong of outfield defense, too much pressure, Jim Leyland not as cool a manager as Don Wakamatsu. Regardless, Washburn is not nearly the pitcher the Tigers hoped they would get.

Mug shots courtesy of ESPN.com.