Billy Beane’s Track Record Post Mulder, Hudson Deals

Dan Haren Trade

Aug 12, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Dan Haren (14) throws a pitch against the Atlanta Braves in the first inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Let me know if you’ve heard of some of the players that the A’s received from the Arizona Diamondbacks: Brett Anderson (turned into Drew Pomeranz last winter), Chris Carter (turned into two years of Jed Lowrie), Dana Eveland, Aaron Cunningham (traded with Scott Hairston to San Diego for Eric Sogard and Kevin Kouzmanoff), Greg Smith, and one Carlos Gonzalez (traded with Greg Smith and Huston Street to Colorado for half a season of Matt Holliday).

Let’s recap that real quick. Billy Beane traded Mark Mulder, who, in four seasons in St. Louis, went 22-18 with a 5.04 ERA, for what turned into Pomeranz, the fifth overall pick in the 2010 draft, Chris Carter, who hit 37 home runs in 2014, and a perennial All-Star, and disabled list-occupyer, in Car-Go. Heck, throw in Eric Sogard too. He’s on the team.

Trades like this are what put Billy Beane on the map. Yet, it was the Carlos Gonzalez trade that was a sign of things to come. Beane traded away young talent to acquire an established player in Holliday, who never quite fit in Oakland.

Ahead, we’ll look at how Billy Beane has fared since the trade that put his name among the game’s best GMs.