Colorado Rockies: 3 Mistakes Almost as Bad as the Oscars

When the person who makes a bad deal later admits that it was a bad deal, you know it’s a bad deal. Such was the case with Dan O’Dowd and the trade that sent minor league infielder Chone Figgins to the Anaheim Angels for outfielder Kimera Bartee in July of 2001.

O’Dowd, then Colorado’s general manager, took a chance on Bartee solving Colorado’s need for a left fielder. We’ll let Thomas Harding of MLB.com explain from this article just how bad this trade was for the Rockies.

"Figgins would earn a World Series ring in 2002, appear in six postseasons, go to the All-Star Game in 2005 and four times finish in the top 24 in American League Most Valuable Player voting. Bartee would appear in 15 games, make 19 plate appearances and go 0-for-15 — though he walked twice — in Purple Pinstripes. After 133 games in Triple-A with the Cubs the following year, Bartee would finish his professional career in independent ball and in Mexico."

Ouch.

It’s certainly a trade that took a young player who could’ve helped the Rockies in numerous ways and sent him to another team. It’s also a trade that, much like the swap with San Diego we discussed on the previous page, we wish had never happened.

Don’t hand over the trade envelope to Anaheim. We’ll keep Figgins here in Denver and be just fine.