On this date in 2009, the Tampa Bay Rays traded Scott Kazmir, their first real ace, to the Los Angeles Angels. The return was a trio of prospects.
The Tampa Bay Rays had always been a team that dealt their young, rising in cost talent for new blood, but the trade of Scott Kazmir was something different.
Kazmir had come to the Rays five years earlier in an oft-discussed and trade with the New York Mets.
Heading into the 2004 trade deadline, the out-of-contention Tampa Bay Devil Rays were receiving plenty of interest in right-handed pitcher Victor Zambrano, who despite some massive control issues, had developed into a decent starting pitcher in the tough American League East.