There's no better baseball title than "former Indians player"

Mark Shapiro is generally considered one of the game's best general managers. Cleveland isn't a big-market team, but the talent level of the 2007 team that lost in seven games in the ALCS to the Red Sox was unquestionably stellar. Don't just look at the Indians to make that claim, either.

Shapiro, probably the most activist GM in the game, has been very busy at the trade deadline the last two years. And for good reason - trading with the Indians is some kind of good-luck charm.

• July 7, 2008: The Indians trade pitcher CC Sabathia to Milwaukee for four minor-leaguers (including top outfield prospect Matt LaPorta). Sabathia went 11-2 with a 1.65 ERA down the stretch with the Brewers, leading them to the playoffs for the first time in 26 years. He now is the ace of the team with the best record in baseball, the Yankees.

• July 26, 2008: The Indians trade 3B Casey Blake to the Los Angeles Dodgers for two minor leaguers (including top catcher prospect Carlos Santana). Blake became a the unsung part of the Dodgers' run to the NL West title (driving in 52 runs in 211 at-bats) and is hitting .282 with 16 homers this season.

• June 27, 2009: The Indians trade IF-OF Mark DeRosa (who wasn't part of that 2007 team) to St. Louis for two players (including relievers Chris Perez and Jess Todd). DeRosa has eight homers in 134 at-bats in St. Louis.

• July 22, 2009: The Indians trade relief pitcher Rafael Betancourt to the Colorado Rockies for a minor league pitcher. Betancourt hadn't given up a run in 14 appearances until Wednesday. He has a 1.50 ERA in Colorado during their run to the NL wild-card lead.

• July 27, 2009: The Indians trade 1B-OF Ryan Garko to the San Francisco Giants for a minor-league pitcher. Garko is hitting .244 with two homers in 78 at-bats with San Francisco.

• July 29, 2009: The Indians trade P Cliff Lee (and OF Ben Francisco) to Philadelphia for four minor-leaguers (including top pitcher prospect Carlos Carrasco). Lee is an incredible 5-0 with a 0.68 ERA in five starts with the Phillies.

• July 31, 2009: The Indians trade C-1B Victor Martinez to Boston for three players (including top pitcher prospect Justin Masterson). Martinez is hitting .337 with five homers and 18 RBI in 89 at-bats for the Red Sox.

• Aug. 7, 2009: The Indians trade P Carl Pavano to Minnesota for a player to be named. The oft-injured Pavano is 2-1 in four starts for the Twins.

That's two reigning Cy Young winners, an All-Star catcher and a lot of valuable parts. And with all of them doing well in their new settings, it's no wonder why the Indians are in fourth place in the worst division in baseball, and another wonder how manager Eric Wedge has kept his job, with so much talent wasted.