Then and Now, the Nick Punto Trade

[Villain]

In August of 2012, the Dodgers new owners and the Red Sox completed the biggest revokable-waivers trade in MLB history.

To Dodgers

Josh Beckett, P - Retired, made 28 starts for the Dodgers including a no-hitter in Philadelphia. Worth about 0.5 WAR for the Dodgers
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B - Still with Dodgers. Worth about 10 WAR since trade.
Carl Crawford, LF - Still with Dodgers, platooning in LF. Worth about 6 WAR since trade.
Nick Punto, INF - Free Agent. Worth about 2 WAR to the Dodgers in 2013. Signed with A's for 2014.
$12,000,000 - LOL

To Red Sox

James Loney, 1B - Finished 2012 in Boston, then signed with Rays. Worth about 2.2 WAR since 2013
Allen Webster, RHP - Made 18 starts for Boston, then traded to Arizona for Wade Miley. Worth about -1 WAR since the trade to Boston.
Rubby De La Rosa, RHP - 30 appearances for Boston (18 starts), 29 starts for Arizona since being traded with Webster for Wade Miley. Worth about 1 WAR for career.
Ivan De Jesus Jr., INF - Bounced around in several transactions, now worth about 0.3 WAR to Reds
Jerry Sands, 1B/OF - Bounced around in several transactions, getting limited time for Rays in 2014 and now playing for the Indians. Worth about -0.5 WAR since the trade to Boston.

Payroll added commitments added by Dodgers: approx. $260,000,000.

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Relevant post from MLBTR: Red Sox, Dodgers Complete Nine-Player Blockbuster

Relevant thread* from the time:
Holy crap, are the Dodgers serious? | SportsHoopla Sports Forums

The best "hot take" I can find:

Gonzalez is a legit upgrade, he is overpaid, but the Dodgers can afford to overpay, so that really doesn't matter.

Beckett can still pitch, but he is a number 4/5 starter at this point, but being paid like a #1. Again money doesn't matter to the Dodgers, so he is useful.

Where they lose the deal is the addition of Crawford's full salary. And the subsequent guaranteed playing time when healthy. When he is probably a 4th OF at this point. Also, they gave up some decent prospects for the luxury of spending money, which is also moronic.

*I had a hard time finding threads from back then, can anyone else find more?

 

[Villain]

Hitters, 2013 to now: Major League Leaderboards » 2015 » Batters » Dashboard | FanGraphs Baseball

Pitchers, 2013 to now: Major League Leaderboards » 2015 » Pitchers » Dashboard | FanGraphs Baseball