NY Mets Trades: Five most impactful deals with the Blue Jays

August 27, 1992 – Mets trade David Cone

The two trades made by this organization involving pitcher David Cone could be considered a success. The deal they made with the Kansas City Royals to first land him has no argument. New York won.

The August 27, 1992 trade with the Blue Jays is a little more worthy of debate. Although the club landed a future MVP, they ended up dealing him away before he reached his prime. What’s more, they traded him away for Carlos Baerga.

This future MVP I am referring to is Jeff Kent. Kent didn’t spend a long time in New York. However, he did show some signs of becoming a competent player. It wasn’t until the late 1990s when he began to really shine. By that point, I’m not sure he would have been in orange and blue regardless of whether or not the Mets traded him. Free agency would have come knocking a little earlier.

In the deal, the Mets did also acquire Ryan Thompson. The club was able to use him to land Mark Clark, a starting pitcher who had a pretty good 1996 campaign but didn’t do much else for the franchise.

If not for what Cone would continue to do, I think the 1992 trade between the Mets and Blue Jays is a lot more even.

Unfortunately for the Mets, Cone went on to help the Blue Jays win the 1992 World Series. In 1994, now back in a Royals’ uniform, he won the Cy Young.

Cone enjoyed some great years with the Mets. His 20-win season in 1988 remains one of the best seasons by a pitcher in franchise history.

Whether you want to claim this trade with Toronto as a win or loss doesn’t matter much. It was a deal that impacted two franchises with the Mets coming away from with very little in the standings.