Calling half of those deals "trades" is laughable. If that is the case, can I call a rod a "trade acquisition"? How about Clemens? Knoblauch?
When a team like the padres "trades" a young stud 1st baseman for minor leaguers and stud subsequently signs 100 trillion dollar contract before he plays an inning, that is in essence a free agent signing. When a team that is about to become history "trades" the best young arm in baseball and said pitcher signs for a trillion dollars, that is in essence a free agent signing.
Yeah, schilling was a "trade". So was Pedro.
We have already debated this. The yanks last world series was pretty sickening but let's not act like Boston's were homegrown. At least the yanks best players during their dynasty years were farm products. Boston can't even say that.