The one-that-got-away team

I was watching some of ESPN's Sunday Night baseball game between the Indians and Phillies the other day. As often is the case when the Indians' Carlos Santana pops up on the screen and I view his statistics, I quietly lament the Dodgers trading him away back in 2008.

Then, sometime during Alex Rodriguez's pointless ramblings and awkward bantering, I started to fantasize about Santana's contributions for the Dodgers if he had stayed with the team. Perhaps he would have solidified the catching position back in 2011-13 or maybe helped out at first base.

This "what could have been" thought process often happens during my fan reflections and I have a feeling it's a common part of being a fan. We always want the best for our team and we just hate it when a talented player gets away.

The Dodgers have their fair share of "big fish" stories, some of the biggest, and I thought it would be interesting to put together a "One That Got Away" team for the Dodgers. This team won't include only "bad trades" by the Dodgers but also players the team failed to sign, etc.

In an indication of just how much talent has escaped the Dodgers, Santana doesn't even make the team. I suppose I could have fit him in at designated hitter, but, of course, my teams don't have DHs.

OK, here we are. I bet you know some of them already:

First base: Paul Konerko

Traded to the Reds on July 4, 1998, along with Dennys Reyes for reliever Jeff Shaw.

The Dodgers aren't the only goof balls in dealing Konerko as the Reds shipped the same player four months later to the White Sox. Konerko proceeded to hit over 400 home runs in his career with Chicago and win them a World Series in 2005.

Second base: Ted Sizemore

Traded to the Cardinals on Oct. 5, 1970, along with Bob Stinson, for first baseman Dick Allen.

Sizemore won the Rookie of the Year for the Dodgers in 1969 but that didn't stop them for sending him away a year later. You can't really blame them as they were trying to get Dick Allen. But Allen didn't last long with L.A. and Sizemore performed fairly well for a '70s second baseman with the Cardinals.

The Dodgers got Sizemore back from the Cardinals six years later, but then traded him again, to the Phillies.

Shortstop: Maury Wills

Traded to the Pirates on Dec. 1, 1966 for outfielder Bob Bailey and shortstop Gene Michael

Maury Wills' game had started to decline in 1966. He stole just 38 bases and was caught stealing 24 times. The Dodgers went with Gene Michael at shortstop in 1967 and that didn't work too well, so they acquired former MVP Zoilo Versailles and that went horribly.

The Dodgers, realizing the error of their ways, reacquired Wills, who had moved on to the Expos, in 1969.

Third base: Adrian Beltre

Signed a free agent deal with the Mariners on Dec. 17, 2004

Adrian Beltre put together a monster season for the Dodgers in 2004, probably the best season of his career, and the Dodgers let him go. No coincidence Mike McCourt had just taken ownership of the Dodgers prior to the start of the '04 season.

This decision looked dumb as it was happening. Beltre was a certified star and promised unlimited potential from his days as a teen prospect with L.A. Beltre completed a Hall of Fame career with the Rangers last year. The Dodgers, meanwhile, struggled to find a regular third baseman until Justin Turner came along.

Left field: Bill Buckner

Traded to the Cubs on Jan. 11, 1977, along with Ivan DeJesus for outfielder Rick Monday and reliever Mike Garman

Many people remember Buckner first with the Boston Red Sox or the Chicago Cubs. Even though I don't remember seeing Buckner play for the Dodgers, I do remember the news of him being dealt to the Cubs and I wasn't happy.

Buckner suffered an ankle injury that cost him much of the 1975 season and after his recovery could not move as quickly in the outfield. But the Dodgers couldn't move him to first base because Steve Garvey was there. And Dusty Baker was ready to fill the left field spot.

Monday -- save for one glorious home run -- did little for the Dodgers. After hitting a career-best 32 homers for the Cubs in 1976, he struggled in his first year with L.A. and was platooned for a decent portion of his Dodgers career.

Center field: Roberto Clemente

Drafted by the Pirates from the Dodgers on Nov. 22, 1954 in the Rule 5 draft

I know Clemente chiefly played right field, but he did play some center and he never played for the Dodgers anyway so what does it matter?

The greatest "big fish that got away" story in Dodgers history. Can you imagine the Dodgers in the '60s with Clemente in their lineup? They might have won the World Series in 1962 and 1966, too! But the Dodgers got too cute, trying to hide Clemente in Montreal for a season without calling him to the majors and the Pirates caught them.

Right field: Henry Rodriguez

Traded by the Dodgers to the Expos on May 23, 1995, along with Jeff Treadway, for reliever Joey Eischen and outfielder Roberto Kelly

Ugh, what a gross trade. Rodriguez was a big prospect for the Dodgers in the early '90s and I remember, when the Dodgers were winning all those Rookies of the Year at the time, that Rodriguez had a good chance of joining that crew.

But Rodriguez struggled in 1992 and 1993 and the Dodgers got impatient, and as soon as I knew that he was dealt to the Expos, I thought, "well, here is where he blossoms into a star player!"

Sure enough, Rodriguez hit more than 30 home runs twice and at least 20 home runs every year from 1996-2000 for the Expos and Cubs.

Catcher: Mike Piazza

Traded to the Marlins, along with Todd Zeile, on May 14, 1998, for pitcher Manual Barrios, outfielder Bobby Bonilla, outfielder Jim Eisenreich, catcher Charles Johnson and outfielder Gary Sheffield

The biggest blockbuster deal of my career as a Dodgers fan. I didn't know what to think about this deal when it was made. It was all too mind-boggling. I know, even though I wasn't the biggest Piazza fan at the time, that I didn't like him leaving.

Piazza ended up re-establishing himself as a Mets star and now he's in the Hall of Fame as a Met even though I think that's irritating and wrong. This is why you have to think when making deals, Dodgers! (and not let resentment run your business).

Starting pitcher: Pedro Martinez

Traded to the Expos on Nov. 19, 1993 for second baseman Delino DeShields

The amount of Hall of Famers and soon-to-be Hall of Famers on this team is sickening.

This, to me, is truly the most annoying trade that the Dodgers have ever made. Start from the "too small" stereotype and then let's go from there.

But I could build an entire all-star starting staff with the players the Dodgers have let get away. How about this?

SP: Pedro Martinez
SP: Dave Stewart
SP: Rick Sutcliffe
SP: Juan Guzman
SP: Sid Fernandez

Relief pitcher: John Franco

Traded to the Reds on May 9, 1983 with a minor leaguer for infielder Rafael Landestoy.

I knew that Rafael Landestoy wasn't going to help the Dodgers much. He started with the Dodgers in '72 and then toiled through the minors with barely a call-up before getting traded to the Astros. Granted, I had no idea who John Franco was at the time, but why did we need Landestoy again???

And that's your all-time Dodgers "One That Got Away" Team.

There are few players missing here, such as Steve Garvey and Candy Maldanado but I went with the players who jumped out at me, who I have mourned for their lack of time in Dodger blue for many a year.

I don't know how much this post will resonate. I feel like I'm the lone Dodger blogger these days. Once we had GarveyCeyRussellLopes and Nomo's Sushi Platter and Dodgerbobble and All Trade Bait All the Time and FreeAndyLaRoche and a few others. There aren't a lot of Dodger comments these days.

But you can substitute your own team in this exercise. I have no idea who those players would be, I've been too focused on my own team.