Colorado Rockies: 3 Mistakes Almost as Bad as the Oscars

In Colorado’s inaugural season of 1993, the Rockies made a trade that is still head-scratching to this day.

Making a deal within their division, the Rockies sent pitchers Andy Ashby and Doug Bochtler as well as catcher Brad Ausmus to the San Diego Padres in exchange for pitchers Bruce Hurst and Greg Harris. As it turns out, Hurst and Harris were both at the end of their careers when they arrived in Denver.

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When Hurst was sent to the Rockies, he had made two starts in San Diego and compiled a 12.46 ERA. He would make just three starts with Colorado. Although the stats were better (5.19 ERA), his stay was very short-lived. He ended up retiring the next season after eight games with the Texas Rangers.

Harris, meanwhile, never clicked in Denver. He went 1-8 in his 13 starts with the Rockies after coming over from San Diego in 1993 and followed that by going 3-12 with a 6.65 ERA before being released. He pitched in just seven games the following season with the Minnesota Twins before his career was over.

On the other hand, Ashby would go 70-62 with a 3.59 ERA in eight seasons in San Diego while Ausmus would become a solid catcher once his career took off in Detroit.

Needless to say, we’d ask for the envelope back here and hit the pause button on this trade.