Chicago Cubs: Trades that went our way

Dec 10, 2013; Orlando, FL, USA; Philadelphia Phillies manager

talks with reporters during the MLB Winter Meetings at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort. Mandatory Credit:

-USA TODAY Sports

Chicago Cubs trade Ivan DeJesus to the Philadelphia Phillies for Larry Bowa and Ryne Sandberg

For those who don’t know, the headline of this trade was Larry Bowa for Ivan DeJesus – Ryne Sandberg was considered a throw in.  Bowa was moved by the Phillies for causing some trouble within the Phillies organization. He wanted out and the Phillies were more than happy to oblige.  The Cubs had just made a change in their front office and hired former Phillies manager Dallas Green to be their new general manager.  Green of course was very familiar with Bowa and the whole Philadelphia organization and used that to his advantage.

Green liked Bowa, knowing that he would bring some veteran leadership to the team even though he was on the downside of his career physically.  Green offered Ivan DeJesus to the Phillies – but that wasn’t all that Green said. Green demanded that a young short stop in the Phillies organization be involved in the trade in addition to Bowa – that young short stop – Ryne Sandberg.

At the time is seemed fairly even.  The Phillies traded away a player they didn’t want anymore and received a younger short stop who wasn’t the best offensive player but was good with the glove and had good speed.  Bowa known as a hard-nosed player who could steal bases, had a good glove in his younger days, but those days were gone. Sandberg would have a decent season.  Sandberg would show signs of what to expect from him in the near future, but it was still too early to say who won this trade.

This trade would be graded in 1984 – that was the year that not only did the Cubs go to the National League Championship Series, but Sandberg would break out.  Sandberg won the National League MVP in 1984, posting a stat line of .314 batting average, 19 home runs, 84 runs batted in, 19 triples (led the NL), and 32 stolen bases.

It’s safe to say that the Cubs won this one and won it quite easily.  Sandberg would go on as one of the best second baseman of all time (my opinion the best) and a hall of famer. Bowa was released in 1985 by the Cubs. DeJesus would only play two more season’s with the Phillies before he was traded.  Kind of funny though, Sandberg is now managing the Phillies and asked Bowa to join him as apart of his managers.  Together again.

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