Chart: The Trade Deadline in the Four Major Sports

@BreakTheHuddle

MLB NBA NHL NFLWhen is it? Non-waiver

deadline: July 31st

Waiver deadline: August 31st

16th Thursday of the regular season (In a normal year)

The last Monday of February

The Tuesday after Week 6 of the regular season

How many trades generally occur at the deadline?

Quite a few – in 2011, for instance, there were 18 trades the week of the deadline.

Some – 4-6, usually. A lot – normal years see between 15-20, but at the 2009-10 deadline there were 31 (THIRTY ONE) trades made.

2011 was an anomaly – typically there are no trades, or maybe one minor trade, made at the NFL deadline.

What do players think of the trade deadline?

If you’re going to a contender, you’re happy. If you’re going to Houston, you’re not happy.

Dislike it, unless you’re a superstar who feels the need to leave a good team for a bad team in a good city (Re: Carmelo Anthony).

I imagine they dislike it, given the crazy amounts of trades that happen. If your team’s out of the playoff picture, and you’re any good at all, you’re probably getting dealt.

They probably don’t think much about it – getting traded at the deadline in the NFL is on par with the odds you’ll get struck by lightning.i

What do General Managers think of the trade deadline?

“I hope these minor leaguers I’m giving up for a middle reliever don’t amount to anything.”ii

“I hope David Stern just approves this instead of peeing on our parade.”iii

“What are ya talkin’ a-boot? Between all the calls comin’ in and the trades gettin’ done, I DON’T HAVE TIME TA THINK, EH!!!”

“Wait – that’s today?”

What types of players are most often traded at the deadline?

Fourth outfielders, back end of the rotation starting pitchers, middle relievers, defensive-minded middle infielders, with the occasional free-agent-to-be superstar sprinkled in.

Role players, selfish primary scorers who have worn out their welcome with their current team, aging veterans with expiring contracts, and the occasional disgruntled superstar who has to play in a big market so his wife can be on TV more (Re: Carmelo Anthony)

Do you have a pulse? Then there’s a chance you’ll be dealt.

Washed up QBs who refuse to play for the Bengals anymore; washed up WRs who Bill Belichek has tired of; guys nicknamed ‘Booger’iv; very few others.

What do fans think is going to happen?

In 2006, the Astros traded crappy minor leaguers to the Royals for Carlos Beltran, who led them to the World Series. Every fan thinks it’s going to happen for their team every single trade deadline – yet it hardly ever does.

At the 2004 deadline, there was a 3 team deal that broke down like this:Detroit gets: Rasheed WallaceAtlanta gets:A load of crapBoston gets:A load of crap, plus draft picks.Detroit won the 2004 NBA Finals.

At the 2000 deadline, Ray Bourque, a 20 year veteran respected throughout the hockey world, got traded to the Avalanche so he could get a chance to win the Stanley Cup (which he did). This was the last time I cared about hockey.

Last season, the Raiders traded the Bengals two first round picks for disgruntled, more or less washed up QB Carson Palmer. It was something only Al Davis would do, and Al Davis was already dead. It was almost like… a zombie trade…

What usually happens, for real?

Last year, the fading Pittsburgh Pirates traded for the aging Derrek Lee to try and make a miracle push for the postseason. They went 18-38 after the trade and finished 18 games out of the playoffs.

Yesterday, Stephen Jackson, a guy that nobody likes, was traded from the Warriors to the Spurs for Richard Jefferson, a guy that nobody likes. This kind of stuff happens in the NBA more than you’d think.

At the deadline this year, the Rangers acquired Chicago defenseman John Scott in exchange for a 5th round pick. I think the picture above is of Mr. Scott. But I have no idea, really. Never thought I’d mention him in my blog.

Nothing. Nothing usually happens, most of the time. Especially not zombie trades. Man, that Carson Palmer trade was spooky.

What’s the worst deadline trade in the history of the sport?

The Yankees traded a young slugger named Jay Buhner to the Mariners for aging DH Ken Phelps. Mr. Costanza, take it away…v

Dallas gets: Raef Lafrentz and three other players from Denver for Juwan Howard and two players, then gives LaFrentz a 7 year, $70 million deal. The contract part is the really dumb part.

Couldn’t think of a hockey one, so you get a second basketball one: Bucks trade 28 year old Ray Allen to Sonics for a washed up Gary Payton, who left 28 games later as a free agent. The trade part is the really dumb part.

One October 12, 1989, Vikings once gave the Cowboys 5 players and 8 draft picks for running back Herschel Walker. They should’ve learned to stop making trades at that point.vi

Was this post enlightening? Flat out stupid? Somewhere in between? Tell me about it at BreakTheHuddle@gmail.com.

i I’m not very good at math, so I couldn’t factually prove this. But you get my point.ii The Red Sox once traded for Houston reliever Larry Andersen. All it cost them was some kid named Jeff Bagwell. Woops. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1138323/index.htm iii I googled “David Stern vetoes trade” and this was the first result that didn’t prominently feature cursing: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/09/sports/basketball/paul-set-to-join-lakers-as-part-of-3-team-deal.html iv http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/McFaAn20.htm v http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUwSxqnRW-8 vi They didn’t. http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/nfl/news/story?id=5653186