On December 2, 2015, the Oakland A’s and San Diego Padres made what appeared to be a relatively inconsequential trade. The two sides swapped role players, including a few lefty relievers and a mediocre veteran first baseman. There didn’t seem to be winners or losers so much as a shuffling of deck chairs by two teams needing a shakeup, with various low-stakes bets being made on changes of scenery for players who had once been top prospects.
Now, not even two years later, we look back on it as a deal that sent All-Stars in both directions. Not only that, each club sprouted a most interesting prospect tree as a result, ones that could pay off for years to come.