New York Mets: Five failed Mets reunions with former players

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 09: Jay Bruce #19 and Jose Reyes #7 of the New York Mets celebrate after defeating the San Francisco Giants 6-1 at Citi Field on May 9, 2017 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 09: Jay Bruce #19 and Jose Reyes #7 of the New York Mets celebrate after defeating the San Francisco Giants 6-1 at Citi Field on May 9, 2017 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /
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MIAMI, FL – SEPTEMBER 02: Outfielder Jason Bay #44 of the New York Mets throws the ball after missing a catch against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park on September 2, 2012 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images) /

Failed Mets Reunion with Jason Bay

What I will include on this list is anyone that spent time with the organization even if they never did crack the big league roster. In which case, Jason Bay more than qualifies.

Bay may hold the franchise record for appearing on the most “worst” lists. Everything about his stint in Flushing was dreadful. Something many people didn’t realize is that in early 2002, Bay was actually a Mets prospect with bright eyes and a big league future ahead of him.

Acquired in late March of 2002 from the Montreal Expos, Bay spent the first half of the season on the farm hoping to one day call Shea Stadium home. He didn’t get enough time to develop in their system. The Mets traded him on July 31 to the San Diego Padres.

Bay wouldn’t return to the Mets until December 29, 2009, when he signed his massive contract with the club. In three seasons with the Mets, he turned in a pitiful slash line of .234/.318/.369. Bay smashed just 26 home runs which were ten fewer than he hit the season prior with the Boston Red Sox.

Combine the bad contract with poor play and a lot of missed time due to injuries, Bay’s reunion with the Mets may have been one of the worst—and many people didn’t even realize it was a reunion because he was with the organization for such a brief period of time.

The history of Bay and the Mets never ceases to amaze me. Just when you think you can finally read a worst list without him on it, you discover he’s there.

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