This deal is looked back on as a prototype rebuilding trade. Tony Pena was the best player – an All-Star catcher- on some very bad Pirates teams in the 80′s. In return the Pirates got three good players, two of whom played major parts on the back-to-back-to-back division winners in 1990-1992.
Not much left at the end, but the last glory the Pirates franchise has known wouldn’t have happened without that trade.
As always, I am open to suggestions and comments. If there’s a trade tree you’d like to see then let me know.
Filed under: baseball, Pirates, Trade Tree Tagged: | Andy Van Slyke, baseball, Bill Wilkinson, Mark Merchant, Mike Dunne, Mike LaValliere, Mike Walker, Pirates, Rey Quinonez, Tony Pena, Trade Tree
[...] deal to my attention. Be sure to read This Day in Pirates History for more on this deal and the Tony Pena/Andy Van Slyke trade which happened six years later to the day. Share [...]