Mets: Three current players we wish we returned on Boxing Day
![Sep 17, 2020; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; New York Mets second baseman Robinson Cano (24) watches his two run home run during the ninth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_752,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Frisingapple-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fimagn-images-2F2017-2F07-2F14944457-850x560-b6f85d9c8f5c9af97aa252692f7a24c8.jpg)
![Jul 31, 2020; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; New York Mets second baseman Robinson Cano (24) reacts after his solo home run in the fifth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/w_480/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Frisingapple-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fimagn-images-2F2017-2F07-2F14657775-f70a133616501c4ff3226e6cbf0c0836.jpg)
Does anyone know where we can find the receipt for these New York Mets players?
Every American kid grew up seeing Boxing Day on the calendar on December 26th. We never knew what it really was until Al Gore made his invention, the internet, available. It’s a day when bad Christmas gifts are returned or exchanged. Too bad the New York Mets don’t celebrate.
The current Mets roster has plenty of talented and beloved players. From the youngsters to the newcomers to those in their prime, it’s flush with favorites.
However, like the stale banana bread my grandmother gave me when I was eight, there are a few “gifts” on the Mets we wish we could box up and return. Do we have a drawer somewhere with the receipt?
Robinson Cano is the puppy that won’t behave
Did you ever get a pet for Christmas? My family wouldn’t have dreamed of it. It takes a lot of work to put in the love, effort, and care for a living thing. Making it tougher is the fact that some young animals just don’t listen.
Robinson Cano is anything but young and I can say this because he is one of the few Mets older than I am. However, he does have something in common with puppies: he just won’t listen.
Cano is the expensive Goldendoodle that runs around the house and destroys the other presents. He damages Jeff McNeil’s progress at second base and empties your wallet enough to where the old owners use him as an excuse as to why you can’t get another shiny new toy.
Cano’s suspension for the entire 2021 season might be good news for the Mets in terms of wins and losses. Still, it’s an embarrassment how one athlete can be so out-of-control and arrogant to think he could get away with cheating again.
Is it too late to put him up for adoption? Surely, there’s a good home out there for him somewhere.
![Aug 12, 2020; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets relief pitcher Jeurys Familia (27) pitches during the top of the fifth inning against the Washington Nationals at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/w_480/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Frisingapple-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fimagn-images-2F2017-2F07-2F14734277-e52feb5f1e1ec03cfae632221c19f212.jpg)
Jeurys Familia is the outdated videogame system that was hot three years ago
When Jeurys Familia returned to the Mets after the 2018 season, the plan was to have him work as a setup man for Edwin Diaz. We all know how bad that turned out. Like an outdated videogame system, he just kind of sat there in the bullpen collecting dust.
Familia was great for the Mets earlier on in his career. As the closer in 2015 and 2016, there were few better than him throughout the game.
Somewhere along the way, Familia seemed to age quickly, lose his confidence, and become nothing more than a videogame system with one awesome game.
Many years ago, I remember getting the first Playstation because I knew I could play Resident Evil on it. My babysitter’s kids had the game but they never let me play because they were older and that’s what preteens do.
Fast-forward a few Christmases and I did get the Playstation and the Resident Evil game. I was terrible at it. To make matters worse, Playstation 2 had already come out and Sony was focused on making new and exciting games for that platform—not the outdated one I would play in my bedroom.
The Mets might be hoping Familia has some GoldenEye or Mario Kart in him. To this day, people still play the Nintendo 64 for the sake of getting a dose of those two classics.
I don’t see Familia this way. He reminds me more of the original Resident Evil with the poor graphics by today’s standards. And much like the characters in that first Resident Evil, sometimes when Familia is on the mound, it looks like he’s running into walls.
![Sep 3, 2020; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets pitcher Miguel Castro (50) delivers a pitch during the seventh inning against the New York Yankees at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/w_480/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Frisingapple-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fimagn-images-2F2017-2F07-2F14924922-c21efb74ea15c06a07b577f30d9964b6.jpg)
Miguel Castro is the toy we didn’t ask for
I’m not anti-Miguel Castro whatsoever. Unfortunately for him, if I want to get what I asked for, I need to return another gift. Otherwise, my toy chest is going to fill up and mommy will decide for me.
Castro didn’t do much for the Mets in 2020 after arriving. It was a very mediocre performance. This is what he has been throughout his career. In a sense, he’s not the gift I had on my list.
Yet another present given to us by Brodie Van Wagenen, the Mets had to give up prospect Kevin Smith to get him. I cannot tell you how excited I was to write about a guy named Kevin Smith for years. References to the director of the same name would have flowed ad nauseam to the point where you want to destroy your Mall Rats DVD.
Castro isn’t a bad gift. I guess the best comparison is that I would have preferred some cash or a better birthday present rather than get him at the 2020 trade deadline.
As the Mets continue to build up their bullpen for next season, I question how they will fit all of these arms into one relief corps. Things are getting full at the inn. Castro’s role doesn’t seem like it will be much more than pitching in blowouts.
Next. The worst December Mets trades
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I do have some faith in a turnaround from Castro even if all he gives the club is one memorable win. Parting with him might have me second-guessing the decision. In my mind, I’ll imagine another young boy—or baseball team in this case—getting something they actually need.