St. Louis Cardinals: Ranking the 10 best trades in the last 20 years

ST LOUIS, MO - OCTOBER 28: Eric Davis Jr (L) and former Cardinal Jim Edmonds deliver the game ball prior to Game Five of the 2013 World Series between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Boston Red Sox at Busch Stadium on October 28, 2013 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
ST LOUIS, MO - OCTOBER 28: Eric Davis Jr (L) and former Cardinal Jim Edmonds deliver the game ball prior to Game Five of the 2013 World Series between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Boston Red Sox at Busch Stadium on October 28, 2013 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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7. July 5, 2006: The St. Louis Cardinals trade that made 2006 possible.

Cardinals Receive: Jeff Weaver and cash

Angels Receive: Terry Evans

While this trade didn’t have nearly as long of a payoff as the previous trades, it has one thing that the previous don’t: a St. Louis Cardinals World Series Champion.

Weaver was an embattled pitcher in Anaheim, recording an abysmal 6.29 ERA in 16 starts for the Angels after signing a one-year deal worth $8.325 million in the offseason. The Angels were anxiously awaiting the opportunity to send Weaver packing, and the Cardinals pounced.

Weaver was critical in engineering the 2006 championship run, with his domination in the 2006 playoffs giving the Cardinals the push they needed to get to the top. Weaver finished the 2006 postseason with a 3-2 record, 2.47 ERA and 1.17 WHIP in 29.2 innings.

While Weaver was gone following the 2006 season, the mark he left during the playoffs, and his invaluable contributions toward the 2006 World Series win gives this trade merit.

Evans only played 20 games over 3 seasons for the Angels.