Worst baseball roster decision (40-man, waive, release) ever (no trades, please)

This is the first I have ever read about this.

 

The Dodgers lost Shane Victorino twice in the Rule 5 draft. That's not the worst, but it's a notable boner.

The Padres lost Joakim Soria to the Royals in the Rule 5.

George Bell and Bobby Bonilla were also Rule 5 guys.

 

Yeah. It was so long ago, it has kinda been forgotten.

 

It was the Pirates who lost Bonilla to the White Sox in the Rule 5 draft. They were able to get him back, but it cost them a useful starting pitcher, Jose DeLeon.

 

Darrell Evans. Drafted by the Braves from the A's in 1968.

He was also drafted five different times by five different teams in the amateur draft (it was held twice a year in the 1960s) before finally signing with the A's.

 

Correct, you are.

 

Back in the days when I was a Pirates fan. I remember the trade well. Bonilla hadn't really played much in the majors yet and hadn't shown the power that came later.

 

He also hadn't yet eaten himself into morbid obesity or moved to the suburbs of Connecticut and threatened to show a reporter the Bronx.

 

All true, but he was pretty damn good as a Pirate.

 

Me and my 50 Bonilla 1987 Topps rookies agree.

 

If you want to get technical, it was the Florida Marlins that claimed Johan Santana from Houston in the Rule 5 draft. They then promptly traded him to the Twins for Jared Camp. Yes, THE Jared Camp. So that would be two horrible decisions by two different teams.

 

The whole of John Hart's four-season reign of error in Texas (2002-05) should be considered.

John Hart practically gave away Justin Duchscherer and Doug Davis. He traded away John Danks and Chris Young and essentially gave away Armando Galarraga to make room for Jason Jennings, yes, he who was just DFA'd on Thursday. Hart's mismanagement of the 40-man roster was so bad you can only laugh. How the fuck did he build a winner in Cleveland?

Hart was the one who ended up casting off Pudge without getting something in return and bringing in Einar Diaz to take his place. His predecessor, Doug Melvin, was poised to deal Pudge before his 10-5 date.