Sometimes, the best sports trades occur without anyone switching teams.
Remember, for instance, when the Yankees “acquired” Jason Giambi in the middle of 2005? Actually a fourth-year Yankee, Giambi suddenly transformed (insert raised eyebrow here) from a de facto replacement level back to his old monster self, helping to pull Joe Torre’s club out of an abyss and back into the postseason.
Other such Big Apple baseball revivals include Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira with the 2015 Yankees, Carlos Beltran with the 2011 Mets (who then actually did get traded, going to the Giants for a young pitcher named Zack Wheeler) and, approximately 10 minutes after Jerry Manuel replaced Willie Randolph in the manager’s office, Carlos Delgado with the 2008 Mets.