I keep looking at what the Nationals got at the deadline in 2021 for Max Scherzer AND Trea Turner.

• Max Scherzer finished 2021 at 15-4 with a 2.46 ERA and a WHIP of 0.864. Finished 3rd in Cy Young. In the last 3 full years he is 26-15 with a 3.16 ERA and a World Series ring.

• Trea Turner finished the 2021 season leading the NL in hits, stolen bases and batting average - .328. He has been to 3 of the last 4 All Star games. The last 3 seasons he has averaged 23 HRs and 79 RBIs per year while hitting .295 in 2024. Silver Slugger in 2022.

The Haul

• Gerardo Carrillo. (22 year old pitcher, has pitched 2.1 innings in the minor leagues since 2022. DFA’d in 2023.)

• Donovan Casey (24 year old OF, hit .191 in AA in 2023 and .161 in AA in 2024)

• Josiah Gray (23 year old pitcher, since the trade is 17-27 with a 4.80 ERA in 3+ years in Washington)

• Keibert Ruiz (22 year old catcher, in 398 games in Washington since the trade he has hit .249 with a OPS of .676. 40 home runs and 174 RBI in 4 seasons)

On paper this looks like one of the worst trades ever. What am I missing?

This comment on the original trade post made me sad