Marlins Rank 15th-Best In Trading

There's a new book out by statistician Doug Decatur that takes a look at some of the most lopsided trades in baseball history, and ranks the Fish right in the middle of the pack when it comes to trade savvy. 

Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post has read the book, and is kind enough to provide right-brained Fish fans with the Cliff's Notes:

According to Inside the Most Lopsided Trades in Baseball History by Doug Decatur, the Marlins ranked as the 15th-best trading team of the 20th century.

Decatur, a statistician, used Win Shares, a statistic developed by baseball guru Bill James, to determine how many wins a player contributes to his team, in ranking the 306 most lopsided trades of the twentieth century.

Lopsided trades are those in which the trade produced a net value of 111 future Win Shares, or 37 wins, by the players involved after the trade was made.

The Marlins stand out because of two big trades in their favor: Gary Sheffield for Trevor Hoffman in 1993 resulted in 68 future wins while Mike Lowell for Ed Yarnall in 1999 resulted in 56 future wins.

If nothing else, you've got a little something to fill the boring, desolate weeks and months leading up to baseball season. That, or a belated Christmas gift for the stats geek in your life.