No. 1990.08.30 · Free Agency Era
Bagwell for Larry Andersen
At the 1990 deadline the Red Sox traded a Double-A third baseman for a month of Larry Andersen. The third baseman was Jeff Bagwell.
August 30, 1990. Boston needed a bullpen arm for a pennant race and sent minor-league third baseman Jeff Bagwell to Houston for reliever Larry Andersen. Andersen was 37. Bagwell was 22, blocked in the Red Sox system, and a lifelong Red Sox fan who did not want to go. Andersen pitched in 15 games, posted a 1.23 ERA, and helped Boston win the American League East. He was a free agent that winter and signed with San Diego. Boston was out in the playoffs.
Bagwell became a first baseman because Houston already had Ken Caminiti at third. He was the National League Rookie of the Year in 1991, the Most Valuable Player in 1994, and finished with 449 home runs. The trade is the deadline deal against which other deadline deals are measured, because the rental worked and the prospect was still the greater player by an order the standings could not show in September.
Boston's need was real. The price was a player the club did not yet know it had.
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