Colorado Rockies: The biggest trades with their NL West rivals

12 Jun 1996: Center fielder Ellis Burks of the Colorado Rockies swings at the ball during a game against the Houston Astros at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado. The Rockies won the game 8-0. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Dunn /Allsport
12 Jun 1996: Center fielder Ellis Burks of the Colorado Rockies swings at the ball during a game against the Houston Astros at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado. The Rockies won the game 8-0. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Dunn /Allsport
2 of 6
OAKLAND, CA – MAY 07: Jack Cust #32 of the Oakland Athletics bats against the Texas Rangers during a Major League Baseball game on May 7, 2009 at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA – MAY 07: Jack Cust #32 of the Oakland Athletics bats against the Texas Rangers during a Major League Baseball game on May 7, 2009 at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

He struggled in his two years in Arizona as he pitched to a 5.03 ERA in 133 games (73 1/3 innings) before playing four more seasons in the major leagues with the Seattle Mariners, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, and Chicago White Sox. He pitched in 274 games (165 innings) in his final four seasons with a 4.09 ERA (113 ERA+).

On the other side of the trade, Closser was in the minor leagues at the time and Cust had seen a cup of coffee with the Dbacks.

Closser played parts of three seasons from 2004 through 2006 with the Rockies at the major league level, taking part in 160 games and playing to a -0.3 WAR. He bounced in the minor leagues and independent ball until seeing his final action in 2012.

Cust played in three games for the World Champion Dbacks in 2001. He only played in 35 games for the Rockies in 2002 before being traded for Baltimore Orioles outfielder Chris Richard in March 2003.

Cust played a little bit with the Orioles and the Padres before breaking out with the Oakland A’s. He averaged a 125 OPS+ for the A’s from 2007-2009 until fading in 2010 and 2011, his final season in the majors.

Not a big trade between the two but it is still the biggest.

Schedule