Strange Exchange

Just when you think the sports world has produced every possible bizarre trade imaginable, they still manage to top themselves …

A broadcaster for a rabbit. And a cartoon rabbit, at that.

When baseball journeyman Harry Chiti got dealt to the New York Mets for a player to be named later, little did he know that player would be him. The Chicago Cubs could spare a backup catcher during the early season, and apparently, the Mets saw enough of Chiti afterward. So, when they later gave a list of players from which to choose in order to complete the deal, Chiti’s name was there. Perhaps their choice said something about the other players, but there can be no doubt that the Cubs got equal value in return.

At least that transaction was a player-only deal, albeit only one player.

Transactions involving no players have had various impacts on the teams involved. An obvious example was a swap between the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Indians. In mid-season, they managed to trade managers. Jimmy Dykes was shipped to the Tribe, with Joe Gordon moving to the Motor City, making it the only deal of its kind in North American sports history. Both were...