Best Mets trades, signings, and other transactions pre-postseason trip

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PORT ST. LUCIE, FL – MARCH 06: Helmets in the New York Mets dugout before of a spring training game against the Houston Astros at First Data Field on March 6, 2018 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

Some transactions are bigger than others for postseason-bound MLB teams. We look back at each year the New York Mets made it to the playoffs and find the best moves they made prior to their trip to October baseball.

Rarely will a Major League Baseball team find themselves in the postseason with a group of players exclusively obtained through the draft. Even in leaner transaction years, there are some big preseason moves made to enhance the organization’s odd. The New York Mets know the impact one move can make.

Since the team came into existence back in 1962, they have made ten trips to the postseason with at least one visit per decade. Many times, a recently acquired player was a major reason why.

Going through each of the postseason trips, I’m going to examine which transaction was the most important for the team. Anything done after the previous season right up until the end of their postseason run will qualify. Primarily, we’re going to look at the player’s immediate impact on his first year with the Mets.

1969 – Donn Clendenon trade

Surely an easy choice to start us off, where would the 1969 Mets have gone if not for Donn Clendenon? One of just two World Series MVPs in franchise history, he arrived to Flushing only a few months before capturing the title with the Amazins in 1969.

Clendenon switched uniforms a few times in 1969. In January, he was dealt from the Montreal Expos to the Houston Astros. On June 15, the Mets sent Houston four warm bodies plus a player to be named later. Houston was hopeful at least one of those guys could turn into something special.

Instead, Clendenon helped supplement the Mets offense in the regular season with a .252/.321/.455 slash line and 12 home runs in 226 trips to the plate. It was a rather average performance, especially when compared to what he had in store for the Baltimore Orioles.

Surprisingly, Clendenon didn’t play at all during the 1969 NLCS sweep versus the Atlanta Braves. He also sat out one game versus Baltimore in the World Series.

This didn’t stop him from hitting .357/.438/1.071 against them. His three home runs all seemed to come at important times, too. He was as clutch as could be.

NEW YORK – CIRCA 1972: Jim Fregosi #2 of the New York Mets gets caught in a run down against the Chicago Cubs during an Major League Baseball game circa 1972 at Shea Stadium in the Queens borough of New York City. Fregosi played for the Mets from 1972-73. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

1973 – Jim Fregosi sale

What is there to say about Jim Fregosi’s time with the Mets that we haven’t said before about all other memories we’d like to forget?

Traded to New York just one year prior in the infamous Nolan Ryan deal which almost immediately bit them in the back, Fregosi will never be able to walk into Queens and get a free beer. In fact, he’s paying double.

Fregosi came to the Mets with some concerns about his health. Unfortunately, his failing body lived up to the reputation.

The multi-time All-Star from the 1960s wasn’t able to rebound with the Mets in 1972. In 1973, he continued to hit poorly, for the third straight year on track to hit in the low .230s.

In a year where the National League East was wide open, the Mets put him up for sale. On July 11, the Texas Rangers purchased him from New York.

Although the impact this had on the Mets is more speculative than anything else, I have to think the bad mojo leaving the clubhouse gave them a boost. The team eventually found themselves back in the World Series, pushing the dominant Oakland Athletics to a seventh game.

1986 – Bob Ojeda trade

Something I’m not sure many younger Mets fans realize, Bob Ojeda actually made his debut with the organization in 1986. The timing couldn’t be more perfect. Acquired in a trade with the Boston Red Sox—the team the Mets defeated in the World Series—he couldn’t have made a better first impression.

Already an established veteran pitcher, Ojeda didn’t have too much success in Beantown. Everything changed when he arrived in New York.

Ojeda won 18 games for the 1986 Mets and did so with a 2.57 ERA. He finished fourth in the Cy Young race while cementing himself as an important part of his new franchise.

The November 13, 1985 trade that brought Ojeda down from Boston included multiple players—none of which had near the impact he did in 1986.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – MAY 15: A detailed view of a Major League Baseball sitting in a Wilson’s catchers glove prior to the start of the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park on May 15, 2017 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

1988 – Mackey Sasser trade

Two years after winning the World Series, the Mets were ready to head back there in 1988. The core was still in place and the team only made a small number of moves in preparation for a playoff run this time around.

The best move they made this year was a smaller one. On March 26, 1988, the Mets and Pittsburgh Pirates made a trade that sent Mackey Sasser to New York.

Starting catcher Gary Carter was nearing the end of his career. Injuries were beginning to pile up and the Mets needed a reliable backup just in case “The Kid” went down. Sasser filled the role valiantly in 1988 with a slash line of .285/.313/.407 in 131 plate appearances.

Although Sasser wasn’t a main component on the team this year, he gave the Mets a good backup plan behind the plate. Just as a team can never have enough pitching, there’s no such thing as having too few catching options.

1999 – Robin Ventura signing

The Mets made a lot of big changes between the end of the 1998 season and their playoff run in 1999. Deciding which the best was is somewhat of a challenge if you consider all of the factors.

However, when in doubt, it’s always easiest to pick the everyday player who hit .301 and won a Gold Glove.

This is exactly what Robin Ventura did in 1999. After spending his entire career with the Chicago White Sox, Ventura signed with the Mets on December 1, 1998. The Mets were on the uptick and upgrading with Ventura at the hot corner helped turn the franchise around in a big way.

Ventura was as close to an everyday player as you can get with 161 games played for the 1999 squad. In addition to slashing .301/.379/.529, the veteran third baseman hit 32 home runs and drove in a personal-best 120 runs.

By comparison to the other moves the team made heading into the year, Ventura seems like an easy selection. Without him, I’m not sure they make the postseason at all.

16 Oct 2000: General Manager Bobby Valentine of the New York Mets congratulates Mike Hampton #32 after the National League Divisional Series Game 5 against the St. Louis Cardinals at Shea Stadium in New York, New York. The Mets defeated the Cardinals 7-0.Mandatory Credit: Al Bello /Allsport /

2000 – Mike Hampton/Derek Bell trade

On December 23, 1999, the New York Mets gave their fans an early Christmas gift. In a deal with the Houston Astros, they landed National League Cy Young runner-up Mike Hampton and veteran outfielder Derek Bell. While the trade did cost them speedy outfielder Roger Cedeno and promising young pitcher Octavio Dotel, Hampton and Bell were tremendous for the 2000 Mets.

Hampton’s one season in New York included a 15-10 record and 3.14 ERA. He was the perfect co-ace with Al Leiter in a rotation with a heavy lefty-focus.

Bell also had a productive season in his one year with the orange blue. As the primary right fielder, he played in 144 games during which he produced a .266/.348/.425 batting line with 18 home runs.

Many of the best pieces the team needed for their 2000 postseason run were brought in a season prior. Hampton and Bell could be viewed as finishing touches to an already near-complete roster.

2006 – Carlos Delgado trade

A hat tip goes to the Mets for signing Billy Wagner prior to the 2006 season. However, as I stated before and will hold true to, there’s nothing like adding an everyday position player to the roster.

For this reason, the best move the Mets made prior to their 2006 postseason run was the November 24, 2005 trade for first baseman Carlos Delgado.

Acquired from the Florida Marlins in a trade where Mike Jacobs was the headliner, the Mets got Delgado as a steal. He hit 38 home runs and drove in 114 for the team in his first year.

For the first time in years, the team was without Mike Piazza in the lineup. Delgado made up for the missing offensive production Piazza gave them in the middle of the order. Even though he was well into his 30s at the time, Delgado was a slugging first baseman the Mets were not accustomed to seeing on the roster.

KANSAS CITY, MO – APRIL 05: Yoenis Cespedes #52 of the New York Mets bats in the first inning of a game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on April 5, 2015 in Kansas City, Missouri. The Mets defeated the Royals 2-0. (Photo by Jay Biggerstaff/TUSP/Getty Images) /

2015 – Yoenis Cespedes trade

Still fresh in our memories, the 2015 trade deadline deal for Yoenis Cespedes turned the team’s fortunate around 180 degrees. Although the team was showing some hope of competing before he officially arrived, there’s no doubt Cespedes helped carry the Mets to the postseason.

Down the stretch in 2015, Cespedes it 17 home runs in his 57 games for the 2015 Mets. He did it with a .287/.337/.604 batting line and some of the most clutch hits imaginable.

By just being in the lineup everything about this team changed. For most of 2015, the lineup was missing a dominant home run threat. They landed it in this trade with the Detroit Tigers.

If not for this Cespedes trade, the 2015 Mets would have just been another team that wrapped up the year after 162 games.

2016 – Neil Walker trade and Asdrubal Cabrera signing

All lists need a tie somewhere. In our final entry on the 2016 Mets, we have two infielders with an equal impact on the team.

First, there’s the Neil Walker trade the Mets made with the Pittsburgh Pirates. In exchange for Jon Niese, the Mets looked to find their answer to replacing Daniel Murphy at second base. Walker’s 23 home runs and .282/.347/.476 slash line in 113 games played certainly helped—even if Murphy had a better year with the Washington Nationals.

The other transaction was the free agent signing of Asdrubal Cabrera. Looking for some more offense from the shortstop position, the Mets found it with Cabrera when he also hit 23 home runs and gave them a similar slash line at .280/.336/.474.

Both switch hitters and middle infielders, I have a tough time choosing between Walker and Cabrera as the more “impactful” one in this season. Their numbers were so similar we’re going to have to agree to make this one a draw.

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