Ranking the top three August trade deadline deals in Oakland A's history

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Among the rule changes adopted by Major League Baseball this season is the elimination of the August trade period which used to follow the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.

In previous years, teams could still make trades after the deadline by simply placing the players involved on waivers first. Now there will be just one trade deadline at the end of July.

With the August trade period now a thing of the past, we rank the three best August trades in Oakland A's history:

3. Mike Fiers for Nolan Blackwood and Logan Shore (August 6, 2018)

In desperate need of starting pitching, Oakland acquired veteran right-hander Mike Fiers from the Tigers in exchange for two players to be named later. Those players ended up being minor league pitchers Nolan Blackwood and Logan Shore.

Fiers helped propel the A's to the postseason, going 5-2 with a 3.74 ERA in 10 games with Oakland. The A's re-signed Fiers to a two-year deal this offseason and he will be their Opening Day starter.

Of course, the jury is still out on Blackwood and Shore, but neither were ranked among the A's top 10 prospects by MLB Pipeline, and Oakland has plenty of young pitching depth to soften their loss.

2. Storm Davis for Dave Leiper and Rob Nelson (August 30, 1987)

In late August of 1987, the A's acquired 25-year-old right-hander Storm Davis from the Padres in exchange for left-handed reliever Dave Leiper and first baseman Rob Nelson. Davis stuck around for three seasons, helping Oakland to its 1989 World Series title.

Davis' best year with the A's came in 1988 when he finished 16-7 with a 3.70 ERA. He followed that up with a 19-7 record and 4.36 ERA in 1989.

Leiper and Nelson never really materialized for San Diego. Nelson played a total of 76 games in his MLB career, finishing with a .178 batting average. Leiper spent three seasons with the Padres, recording an ERA of 3.38 in 98 2/3 innings, before ultimately returning to Oakland in 1994.

1. Harold Baines for Joe Bitker and Scott Chiamparino (August 29, 1990)

This was a steal. Oakland swindled the Texas Rangers for Hall of Fame outfielder and designated hitter Harold Baines, giving up right-handers Joe Bitker and Scott Chiamparino. The two pitchers combined for just three wins in their major league careers.

Baines spent three solid seasons in Oakland, hitting .274/.360/.431 with 39 home runs, 48 doubles, and 187 RBI. Baines made the All-Star Game in 1991, finishing the year with a .295/.383/.473 slash line.

Baines also made an impact in the playoffs, helping the A's reach the World Series in 1990 and the American League Championship Series in 1992. Between the two postseasons, he hit .333 (17-for-51) with two home runs and nine RBI.
 

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