8 Halloween-scary trades that still haunt Phillies fans
By Matt Rappa
7. Traded 1B Carlos Santana and INF J.P. Crawford to Seattle for SS Jean Segura, LHP James Pazos and RHP Juan Nicasio
December 3, 2018
At the time, the Phillies trading Carlos Santana away seemed like the right idea, no matter the trade package nor return they would receive. Doing so, they were able to move Rhys Hoskins from left field to his more natural position at first base.
Santana simply struggled in red pinstripes, batting only .229/.352/.414, albeit having 28 doubles, 24 home runs, 86 RBI, 110 walks, and just 93 strikeouts in 161 games during the 2018 season.
The one-time All-Star and Silver Slugger Award winner came to the Phillies from the Cleveland Indians organization, and he has since returned to the American League Central team. Across the 2019-20 seasons, Santana got his career back on the right track, slugging a combined 42 home runs and 123 RBI across 218 games.
J.P. Crawford, meanwhile, appears to be finding his way with the Seattle Mariners organization. In 53 games this past season, he produced a career-best .255 batting average and .336 on-base percentage, while slugging 11 extra-base hits and 24 RBI.
Across 454 2/3 innings at shortstop, Crawford committed only three errors in 221 chances, good for a .986 fielding percentage. He is one of three finalists for the American League Gold Glove Award at shortstop.
Of the three returns the Phillies got from the Mariners for Santana and Crawford, just infielder Jean Segura remains, while left-handed pitcher James Pazos and right-handed pitcher Juan Nicasio have since departed. Segura was dealt to the Phillies coming off three straight seasons producing a .300 batting average or better. He has yet to do so in red pinstripes, hitting .280 in 2019 and .266 in 2020.
What makes this trade haunting the most is that Crawford will eventually find his way and turn into an everyday, multi-tool shortstop for the Mariners. The Phillies currently are without a shortstop, with Didi Gregorius entering free agency.