Dave Tomlin--1975
On January 25, 1978, the Texas
Rangers traded an aging Gaylord
Perry to the San Diego Padres for
an estimated $125,000 cash and
bullpen lefty Dave Tomlin. While
this trade is rarely mentioned as
one of baseball’s worst deals, it
deserves a place in line for the title.
Apparently the Rangers were
looking to shed some payroll in
Perry's $200,000 contract and pick-
up some cash for the 39-year-old
who won 15 games for Texas in ’77,
though was considered “washed
up” by management.
So, how bad was the deal?
In 1978, Perry would go on to win
the National League Cy Young
Award with a 21-6, 2.73 mark,
helping the Padres to their first-
ever .500-season. In landing The
Cy, Perry would become the first
hurler to grab the hardware in both
leagues. Meanwhile, Tomlin would
be sold to the Cincinnati Reds at
the close of 1978 spring training---
ultimately, never throwing a pitch in
the regular season for the Rangers.
(1/27/10)
Rangers traded an aging Gaylord
Perry to the San Diego Padres for
an estimated $125,000 cash and
bullpen lefty Dave Tomlin. While
this trade is rarely mentioned as
one of baseball’s worst deals, it
deserves a place in line for the title.
Apparently the Rangers were
looking to shed some payroll in
Perry's $200,000 contract and pick-
up some cash for the 39-year-old
who won 15 games for Texas in ’77,
though was considered “washed
up” by management.
So, how bad was the deal?
In 1978, Perry would go on to win
the National League Cy Young
Award with a 21-6, 2.73 mark,
helping the Padres to their first-
ever .500-season. In landing The
Cy, Perry would become the first
hurler to grab the hardware in both
leagues. Meanwhile, Tomlin would
be sold to the Cincinnati Reds at
the close of 1978 spring training---
ultimately, never throwing a pitch in
the regular season for the Rangers.
(1/27/10)
