MLB GM Rankings, 10-1: It's Brian Cashman's world

Heading into the winter meetings, theScore ranked every MLB team's top executive based solely on the best trade he's made during his career. For teams with a president of baseball operations/president/general manager, only the top executive was considered. After already reviewing 30-21 and 20-11, we finish with 10-1:

10. Brian Sabean, Giants

Current Role: Executive VP of Baseball Ops.
Team During Trade: San Francisco Giants
Date of Trade: Nov. 13, 1996

Sabean was heavily criticized in the early days after trading fan favorite Williams, even proclaiming "I am not an idiot" during the news conference explaining the deal. Sabean was certainly right. Although Williams would win a Silver Slugger in his lone season in Cleveland, Kent would emerge as one of the league's top hitters in San Francisco. During his six seasons with the Giants, Kent was a three-time All-Star, Silver Slugger winner, and the 2000 MVP, while averaging 29 homers, 115 RBIs, and a .903 OPS.

9. Andy MacPhail, Phillies

Current Role: President
Team During Trade: Baltimore Orioles
Date of Trade: Feb. 8, 2008

Viewed as one of the most lopsided trades in MLB history, MacPhail wrangled four prospects from the Mariners in exchange for Bedard, who was considered one of the best left-handed starters at the time. Jones was Seattle's top outfield prospect and turned into a star in Baltimore. He's appeared in 1,468 games for the Orioles, becoming a five-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove winner. Tillman has tossed 1,118 1/3 innings for the Orioles, and was an All-Star in 2013. Bedard didn't see the same success in Seattle, as he was limited to just 46 starts over parts of three seasons.

8. Jon Daniels, Rangers

Current Role: President of Baseball Ops., General Manager
Team During Trade: Texas Rangers
Date of Trade: Dec. 21, 2007

Daniels rolled the dice with Hamilton - a former first-round pick who's battled addiction - and his faith in the slugger couldn't have worked out better for both team and player. Hamilton was an All-Star in each of his five seasons during his first stint in Texas, winning the AL MVP in 2010 while also collecting three Silver Slugger Awards. Volquez won 17 games in his first year in Cincinnati, but didn't post an ERA under 4.30 over the next three seasons.

7. Alex Anthopoulos, Braves

Current Role: President, Baseball Ops.
Team During Trade: Toronto Blue Jays
Date of Trade: Nov. 28, 2014

No matter what happens in Anthopoulos' career, it's unlikely he'll ever make a deal as beneficial to his club as the one in which he landed Donaldson. The then-Blue Jays GM pestered Oakland executive Billy Beane relentlessly before finally parting ways with Lawrie and three prospects to land Donaldson. Adding the third baseman was franchise-altering in Toronto. Donaldson was named AL MVP in his first year in Toronto and helped lead the Blue Jays to the ALCS in back-to-back seasons. The return for Oakland wasn't quite as beneficial. While Barreto is the club's top prospect, both Lawrie and Nolin flamed out and Graveman has battled consistency issues.

6. Theo Epstein, Cubs

Current Role: President, Baseball Ops.
Team During Trade: Chicago Cubs
Date of Trade: July 2, 2013

The man who reversed the curse in two cities didn't do it by accident. While there's a long list of wins on Epstein's trade resume, acquiring Arrieta sits at the top. The Cubs' main priority in the deal was to acquire international slot money and the team initially sent Arrieta - who posted a 5.46 ERA in Baltimore - to Triple-A. Arrieta would develop into one of the majors' best starters in Chicago, winning the Cy Young in 2015 and netting two more top-10 finishes. Since 2014, Arrieta has been worth the fifth-most WAR of any starter, while Clevenger and Feldman combined to post 0.8 WAR with the Orioles.

5. Mark Shapiro, Blue Jays

Current Role: President and CEO
Team During Trade: Cleveland Indians
Date of Trade: July 31, 2010

Sitting in last place in the AL Central ahead of the non-waiver deadline, Shapiro swung a deal that altered the future of his franchise. Westbrook was dealt to the Cardinals in a three-way deal that saw the Padres send Kluber to Cleveland. Not regarded as a top prospect at the time, Kluber wouldn't make his Indians debut until the following season. Despite unspectacular numbers in the minors, the right-hander developed into one of the major's best starters, claiming two Cy Young wins in Cleveland, along with another top-3 finish. Westbrook spent four seasons in St. Louis, posting a 4.27 ERA across 94 appearances.

4. Sandy Alderson, Mets

Current Role: General Manager
Team During Trade: Oakland Athletics
Date of Trade: April 3, 1987

Four days before the start of the 1987 season, Alderson landed Eckersley from the Cubs for a trio of prospects. Primarily used as a starter in his previous 12 seasons, the Athletics moved him to the bullpen where he turned into one of the league's all-time best relievers. The Athletics would win the World Series in 1989, and Eckersley would later claim both the AL MVP and Cy Young award in 1992. He was also a four-time All-Star during his nine years in Oakland. None of the three prospects sent to Chicago appeared in the majors.

3. Dave Dombrowski, Red Sox

Current Role: President, Baseball Ops.
Team During Trade: Detroit Tigers
Date of Trade: Dec. 4, 2007

Dombrowski has always had an affection for trading prospects, and after seeing how well the Cabrera trade worked, you can understand why. Cabrera was a four-time All-Star with the Marlins and helped create an imposing lineup in Detroit following the trade. The Marlins wished to save money by dealing both Cabrera and Willis as they were due for large raises in arbitration, while the six prospects were meant to help the team in the future. Things don't work out so well for the Marlins, however. Maybin and Rabelo combined to play just 178 games. Badenhop received mixed results, shuffling between the bullpen and rotation, and Miller posted a 5.89 ERA in 58 appearances. In Detroit, Cabrera is a seven-time All-Star, won two MVPs, five Silver Sluggers, and has hit 324 home runs.

2. Dan Duquette, Orioles

Current Role: Executive VP, Baseball Ops.
Team During Trade: Boston Red Sox
Date of Trade: Nov.18, 1997

The Red Sox might not be the franchise they are today if Duquette didn't trade for Martinez in the winter of 1997. The reigning Cy Young winner was acquired from the Expos for Pavano - then the Red Sox top pitching prospect - and Armas. Martinez would become one of the greatest pitchers of all time in Boston, winning two more Cy Young's while finishing in the top four in voting four more times. The fiery right-hander finished his Red Sox career with a 117-37 record, 2.52 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, and 1,683 strikeouts while also helping the club win it's first World Series in 86 years in 2004. Pavano posted a 4.83 ERA over five seasons in Montreal, while Armas would fashion a 4.45 ERA across eight years with the organization.

1. Brian Cashman, Yankees

Current Role: Senior VP, General Manager
Team During Trade: New York Yankees
Date of Trade: Feb. 16, 2004

The Yankees wouldn't have been nearly as good, or as entertaining, had Cashman not landed A-Rod from the Rangers more than a decade ago. Fresh off his first MVP season and second Gold Glove at shortstop, the Yankees acquired the 27-year-old in one of the biggest trades in MLB history and moved him to third base. Soriano had two All-Star seasons in Texas, but Rodriguez's impact in New York - as both player and icon - was immense. He won the MVP in 2005 and 2007, was a seven-time All-Star, three-time Silver Slugger, hit his 600th home run in pinstripes, and helped deliver a World Series in 2009. The later years proved to be a disaster for both parties, as Rodriguez was eventually suspended for the entire 2014 season, but the impact he had during his seven-year peak as a Yankee is undeniable.

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)