After the Atlanta Braves lost the 1992 World Series, they were still a young team on the rise. Their rotation featured two of the league’s best starters – John Smoltz and Tom Glavine– and an up and coming lefty that everyone predicted for stardom.
The Braves had a farm system with depth, and many said all they needed to do was find more production in a couple of spots, and they’d be ready to win again. Instead, they traded a 15-game winner and made Greg Maddux the second-highest-paid pitcher in baseball.