In a trade that on the surface looks shockingly one-sided, the Dodgers dealt potential ace Ismael Valdes and second baseman Eric Young to the Cubs for set-up man Terry Adams, minor league pitcher Chad Ricketts and a player to be named.

This was essentially a money-cutting tactic by the Dodgers, who clearly could have received more in return if they simply moved Valdes by himself. Instead, under orders to cut his payroll drastically, Los Angeles GM Kevin Malone decided to deal the unattractive contract of Young (two years, $9 million), he had to put him in tandem with the attractive Valdes.