Mariners' five best and worst midseason trades

Five best trades

1) May 25, 1989: Pitcher Randy Johnson acquired from Montreal Expos, with pitchers Brian Holman and Gene Harris, for pitchers Mark Langston and Mike Campbell. Comment: Langston was a true rent-a-player for the Expos, who didn't even win their division, while Johnson developed into the most intimidating pitcher in baseball and won a Cy Young Award in Seattle.

2) July 21, 1988: Outfielder Jay Buhner acquired from New York Yankees, along with pitchers Rich Balabon and Troy Evers, for DH Ken Phelps. Comment: Even Frank Costanza couldn't believe this trade, which gave the Mariners one of their best power hitters and most popular players ever. Phelps contributed little to the Yankees.

3) July 30, 1996: Left-hander Jamie Moyer acquired from the Boston Red Sox for outfielder Darren Bragg. Comment: Bragg is a reserve with the Braves, his sixth team since the trade. Moyer has become the rock of the Mariners' organization, pitching better than ever at age 40.

4) July 31, 1998: Pitchers Freddy Garcia and John Halama and shortstop Carlos Guillen acquired from Houston Astros for pitcher Randy Johnson. Comment: Roundly criticized at the time, this became one of Woody Woodward's finest deals.

5) July 31, 1995: Pitcher Andy Benes acquired from the San Diego Padres, with pitcher Greg Keagle, for pitcher Ron Villone and outfielder Marc Newfield. Comment: Benes bombed in the playoffs, but his arrival sent a signal the M's were serious about winning. They also got Tim Belcher and Vince Coleman in significant deals that year.

Five worst trades

2) July 31, 2000: John Mabry and pitcher Tom Davey to the Padres for outfielder Al Martin. Comment: The Mariners didn't give up much, but Martin was a letdown, and they were stuck with his $5 million contract in 2001.

3) Aug. 17, 1986: Outfielder Dave Henderson and shortstop Spike Owen to the Red Sox for shortstop Rey Quinones, pitchers Mike Trujillo and Mike Brown and outfielder John Christensen. None of the players acquired by Seattle made a positive impact, while Henderson won a pennant for the Red Sox with his epic homer off Donnie Moore.

4) July 31, 1997: Outfielder Jose Cruz Jr. to the Toronto Blue Jays for pitchers Mike Timlin and Paul Spoljaric. Comment: Cruz never quite became a superstar, but he did develop into a solid left fielder for the Jays, hitting 30 homers and stealing 30 bases in 2001.

5) June 15, 1983: Second baseman Julio Cruz to the Chicago White Sox for second baseman Tony Bernazard. Comment: Cruz, a pending free agent, helped spark the White Sox to the division title, then signed a six-year contract with the Sox. Bernazard was never happy with the Mariners and was traded the following year to Cleveland for Gorman Thomas.