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

By Tim Boyle

20 Aug 2000: Robin Ventura #4 of the New York Mets in action at bat during the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. The Mets defeated the Dodgers 9-6.Mandatory Credit: Jeff Gross /Allsport
20 Aug 2000: Robin Ventura #4 of the New York Mets in action at bat during the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. The Mets defeated the Dodgers 9-6.Mandatory Credit: Jeff Gross /Allsport /
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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.

Next. Mets all-time "all-speed" starting lineup

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