Jon Daniels Five Biggest Mistakes Since 2010

1. Matt Garza –

May 27, 2014; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Matt Garza (22) reacts after being taken out of the game in the seventh inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

There are not may trades in Texas Rangers history (but there are a few) where a team has give up so much to get so little. The Rangers sent Mike Olt, Class A right-hander C.J. Edwards and right-hander Justin Grimm to the Cubs for the privilege of renting a useless Matt Garza for less than half a season. The Rangers lost a really good third base prospect, a pitcher who already had major league experience and a highly touted pitching prospect for nothing, when you look back at the trade. Even Jon Daniels himself has said that this was a bad trade for the Texas Rangers.

“I thought way too short-term with the Garza deal last year,” Daniels told Zach Buchanan. “That one’s got a chance to haunt us and haunt me.”

The team got absolutely nothing from Garza, as he went 4-5 with a 4.35 ERA, something Justin Grimm could have done just fine. I didn’t like the Garza deal at the time, and I still say it was the worst deal since 2010.

I excluded a few for these reasons:

Chris Davis said he probably never would have hit like he did if he would have stayed with the Texas Rangers.

Koji Uehara did not get along with Yu Darvish at all and did not want to stay with the Texas Rangers, and he was not nearly as good with the Texas Club.

Josh Hamilton may have been better if he would have stayed, but we will never know.

Ian Kinsler for Prince Fielder is still too early to know if that was a horrible deal or not in the long run, but I have a sinking feeling that it will be.