Facepalm of a trade

In one of the worst trades in their 36-year existence, the Montreal Expos 22 years ago today send top prospects and future All-Stars in infielder Brandon Phillips, starting pitcher Cliff Lee and outfielder Grady Sizemore, along with journeyman first baseman Lee Stevens, to the Cleveland Indians for rent-a-pitcher Bartolo Colon and another journeyman in relief pitcher Tim Drew.

Colon promptly goes 10-4 in 17 starts for the Expos with the promise of even more to come in 2003, given that his contract runs for another season before the right-hander qualifies for free agency.

Of course, that does not stop the Major League Baseball-owned and coupon-clipping Expos from flipping Colon after the 2002 season to the Chicago White Sox for three players – pitchers Orlando Hernandez and Rocky Biddle, and outfielder-first baseman Jeff Liefer.

Brandon Phillips

While Biddle and Liefer have minimal to no impact during their time in Montreal – and Hernandez never plays there at all – the troika of prospects the Expos send to Cleveland enjoy an abundance of success.

Phillips goes on to play 17 seasons in the majors, wins four Gold Gloves as a second baseman and becomes a three-time All-Star.

Cliff Lee

Lee ends up pitching 13 seasons in the majors, winning 149 games, earning four All-Star selections, receiving the Cy Young Award with Cleveland in 2008 and helping the Philadelphia Phillies to the 2009 National League pennant.

Alas for Sizemore, injuries limit him to only four fully healthy seasons among the 10 he spends in the majors.

In those four seasons, though, Sizemore is among the game’s best center fielders, winning two Gold Gloves while being named to three All-Star teams.

For his part, Colon pitches another 16 seasons in the majors – just none of them with a Montreal franchise that after the 2004 season moves to Washington, D.C.