Best Mets who have had two tours with the orange and blue

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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) /

Fans love to talk about proposed trades and potential free agency signings. The New York Mets have had some successes with trades and free agency signings in the past, but they have also had some blunders that we all love to complain about.

And then there are those players who were with the team, they were either traded or allowed to get away via free agency or outright release, and then brought back for a second tour of duty. There are some players who it was great to see back, it wasn’t great to see them depart. Yet, others, are just headscratchers as to why take a second bite at the apple.

There are at least two players at every position who were with the team at some point, left, and returned for another go-round. Although the Mets all-time two-timers are a bit thin at the catcher and second base positions, the rest of the squad is all-star caliber.

The players are listed by position, and the uniform numbers they wore are in parentheses.

Mets Catchers

The Mets have had some pretty good catchers over the years – Jerry Grote, Gary Carter, Mike Piazza were obviously heads and shoulders above the rest. And then there were guys like John Stearns and Todd Hundley who were not too shabby either. But the ones that came back for a second time were not exactly household names…certainly not those that would be starting for the Mets.

Alex Trevino (29, 6) came up with the Mets as a 20-year-old for a cup of coffee in 1978 and was up to stay a year later. He was a serviceable backup with no pop in his bat but hit a respectable .262 in his time with the club before being shipped off to Cincinnati.

Unfortunately for him, he was with the Mets during a downtime for the organization. He reappeared during the 1990 season – another down period for the Mets – for nine games only to be handed off a second time to the Reds.

Kelly Stinnett (33, 36) was another two-time backup backstop for the club. He was a Rule 5 draft pick from the Cleveland Indians prior to the 1994 season and stuck with the club playing 47 games. He played in 77 games in ’95 but was not very productive, nor was he going to get a lot of playing time with Todd Hundley around.

Stinnett went on to play for five other teams before returning to play seven games for the Mets at the end of the 2006 season.

NEW YORK – CIRCA 1981: Dave Kingman #26 of the New York Mets bats against the Chicago Cubs during an Major League Baseball game circa 1981 at Shea Stadium in the Queens borough of New York City. Kingman played for the Mets from 1975-77 and 1981-83. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

Mets First Basemen

First base was occupied by some big names over the years including fan favorites Marv Throneberry and Ed Kranepool. But the Mets did have some big boppers like Donn Clendenon, John Milner, Dave Kingman, John Olerud, Carlos Delgado, and, now, Pete Alonso. Oh, yeah, some guy named Keith did a fairly good job around that bag. But of them all, only one of them played multiple times for the club.

Dave Kingman (4, 26) came to the Mets originally as a cast-off from the San Francisco Giants. The team with a history of big boppers – Mays, McCovey, Cepeda, Bonds – apparently didn’t value the potential he had to follow their paths. Kingman’s moonshots out of the pitchers’ haven known as Shea Stadium earned him the nicknames of Sky King and Kong to the media and fans. Other than Tom Seaver, he was the first player to come to the Mets for whom you never wanted to miss a pitch.

He could hit and, believe it or not, he was versatile. He played first base, third base, and the outfield – not great, mind you – but well enough to put some of the players who play today to shame. Kong blasted a club record 36 home runs in 1975 and then topped that with 37 in 1976.

And then he was sent packing during the “Midnight Massacre” on June 15, 1977, when M. Donald Grant decided to get rid of all his “problem children.” The new ownership brought him back prior to the 1981 season and he hit another 72 homers over the next three seasons. But he was the only offensive force with no protection for two seasons and then had no place to play once Keith Hernandez arrived in 1983. One has to wonder what Kingman would have done had he been playing today.

Mike Jorgensen (10, 16, 22) was an excellent first baseman who was also an above-average centerfielder. The local Queens product originally debuted as a 19-year-old in 1968, did not appear during the 1969 season but was getting some decent playing time in 1970 and ’71.

Jorgensen was one of the three players included in the trade with the Expos to acquire Rusty Staub. He came back to play with the Mets from 1980 to ’83 and was reliable yet unspectacular, often sharing first base duties with Kingman until the arrival of Hernandez.

NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 23: Kelly Johnson #55 of the New York Mets in action against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citi Field on September 23, 2016 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. The Mets defeated the Phillies 10-5. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

Mets Second Basemen

The second base position is the place that seems to be like the Bermuda Triangle for the Mets. It’s where skills seem to vanish. Just ask Felix Millan, Juan Samuel, Carlos Baerga, Roberta Alomar, Luis Castillo. They were some pretty good second basemen…that is…until they came to the Mets. Then there are a couple of second basemen who were a tad successful and made a return trip…albeit short.

Kelly Johnson (55) helped the Mets down the stretch in 2015 after being acquired from the Braves. He came up with some clutch base hits and solid defense in pressure situations, a great acquisition. He went back to the Braves to start the 2016 season, only to come back to the Mets again for the 2016 stretch run…only to return again to the Braves for the start of the 2017 season and the end of his career.

Marlon Anderson (18, 23, 9) was a truly productive player who could play more than just second base. He spent the 2005 season bouncing around the field and filling it at five different positions. He left for the 2006 season and part of the 2007 season before coming back to the Mets for a second time through the 2008 campaign. It’s amazing how the Mets did not find a way to keep him around and utilize his talents and flexibility.

New York Mets Jose Reyes stealing third base during game 1 of doubleheader against the Florida Marlins, played at Shea Stadium in Flushing, N.Y. Mets defeated the Marlins 17 – 3 on July 8, 2006. (Photo by Bryan Yablonsky/Getty Images) /

Mets Shortstops

When you think of shortstop for the Mets, depending on your age and the era you grew up, you think of Bud Harrelson or Jose Reyes. Seems like they each manned the position for a long time. Oh, there were some decent players sprinkled in there along the way, like Tony Fernandez, Larry Bowa, Garry Templeton…but their time was short-lived. Reyes was the one who, after leaving in the era of free agency and wild spending, would return for what turned out to be a swan song.

Jose Reyes (7) is probably the most exciting player in Mets history. He left in the prime of his career but fizzled after leaving New York, bouncing from the Marlins to the Rockies, to the Blue Jays, before landing back with the Mets to help fill the void of David Wright not being able to man third base. Reyes’ athleticism had greatly diminished by the time he came back to the Mets in 2016 and the highlight of his return was to play side-by-side on the left side of the infield for David Wright’s farewell game at the end of the 2018 season. Reyes still holds a number of records with the Mets.

He spent 12 years total in a Mets uniform accumulating more than 1,500 hits, 200 doubles, 100 triples, and 100 home runs, as well as more than 400 stolen bases. Watching him leg out those triples was truly something. But by the end, it was almost painful as even the media and the fans were calling for his release.

Tim Foli (19) was one of the three players included in the Rusty Staub trade with Montreal prior to the 1972 season. Foli was never going to replace someone named Bud Harrelson in the Mets lineup. Although he would fill in every so often when Harrelson had to fulfill his military obligations. He came back for second tour, briefly, in 1978 and was not at all productive. He left for Pittsburgh where he solidified the SS position for the “We Are Family” 1979 World Champion Pirates.

25 Jul 1993: Infielder Bobby Bonilla of the New York Mets in action during a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Dunn /Allsport /

Mets Third Basemen

Third base was forever the revolving door for the Mets…until, of course, came the arrival of some guy named David Wright. But a couple of well-known names in Mets history, one that remains in infamy, were returnees through that revolving door.

Hubie Brooks (39, 7) was devastated and downright angry when included in the Gary Carter trade that sent him to Montreal prior to the 1985 season. He actually was moved to shortstop from third base during the 1984 season, to make room for Howard Johnson, but, in reality, was being showcased for the Expos to show he could play the position.

Brooks was a star shortstop at Arizona State when he was drafted by the Mets. After some productive years with the Expos, he went on to become a power-hitting outfielder with the Dodgers before returning to the Mets for the 1991 season at the age of 34. He moved on right after that to finish out his career elsewhere.

Bobby Bonilla (25) is probably one of the most hated players in Mets history, if not the most vilified. Probably because his attitude sucked and he is STILL being paid after all of these years. Bonilla left Pittsburgh where he was playing second fiddle to Barry Bonds prior to the 1992 season.

The early to mid 90’s was a bizarre time period for the Mets. The team actually spent money but obviously didn’t spend it wisely. They bought big names, but also bought big attitudes. Big BAD attitudes. Whether Bonilla was a victim of it or he was another that played a part in that insanity, he was finally shipped off to Baltimore during the 1995 season for some prospects.

As if they needed it to be reinforced that he had worn out his welcome, the Mets brought him back for the 1999 campaign for a mere 60 games and a lot more “booing.”

PITTSBURGH, PA – CIRCA 1987: Kevin McReynolds of the New York Mets bats during a Major League Baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Three Rivers Stadium in 1987 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kevin McReynolds /

Left Field

Left field, for me, will always seem like hallowed ground as the place – at least at Shea Stadium – where Cleon Jones dropped to one knee…memorialized forever. Cleon and the number .340 will always be associated with left field for the Mets, but the position has yielded some production over the years, and two of those productive players were brought back for more.

Kevin McReynolds (22) was always reliable and, for some reason, always despised. I loved the guy. He was old school. He played the game hard…and he played it the right way. But he was brought to a team that had just won the World Series in 1986 and that was loud and, quite often, obnoxious.

McReynolds was quiet. He just wanted to blend into the woodwork, do his job, and go home. And he did his job and did it well. And he put up very respectable numbers. In five seasons, he averaged 23 home runs and 87 RBI, and walked more than he struck out. And he was an excellent left fielder and also played a pretty good centerfield when asked.

McReynolds left for two quiet seasons in Kansas City before a return visit to Flushing for an unproductive 51 games during the 1994 season.

Roger Cedeno (19) is a conundrum. He actually had his most productive years as a Met. Cedeno came from the Dodgers and in 1999 hit .313 with an on base percentage of .396 and stole 66 bases. Incredibly he was gone after that season. But then he was brought back for the 2002 and 2003 campaigns. And although his average dipped to the .265 level, he was still very productive. For some reason, his career came to a halt at the ripe old age of 30.

NEW YORK – CIRCA 1979: Lee Mazzilli #16 of the New York Mets slides into third base as Enos Cabell #23 of the Houston Astros looks on during an Major League Baseball game circa 1979 at Shea Stadium in the Queens borough of New York City. Mazzilli played for the Mets from 1976-82. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

Mets Centerfielders

How many outfields can boast that they had both Willie Mays and Duke Snider patrolling centerfield? Okay, so they were both well past their primes, but they were there. Tommie Agee was there, as was Carlos Beltran. Beltran, well, he almost made it back. Okay, not as a player, but still. Sometimes someone comes back and provides that same old spark…and sometimes the flame has burnt out.

Lee Mazzilli (12, 16, 13) was a matinee idol. OK…maybe that’s a stretch. But perhaps nobody looked better in a uniform. He was even on billboards that said, “Hi, I’m Lee Mazzilli. Come see what a kid from Brooklyn can do in Queens. Come see me at Shea.”

Maz arrived on the scene during the lean years of the late 70’s when the Mets were fighting for a new identity after the departure of Tom Seaver. Mazzilli wasn’t just good looking, he was a good player. He was a switch hitter and was also ambidextrous and could throw with both hands as well. He would patrol centerfield with grace and make a Willie Mays-signature basket catch. He hit for average, he hit for some power, and he stole some bases.

And then…Joe Torre got a hold of him and tried to convert him into a power-hitting first baseman. Grrrrr So he was then used as trade bait to get two guys named Walt Terrell and Ron Darling from the Texas Rangers in 1982. Mazzilli never achieved the success he enjoyed with the Mets anywhere else. After his release from the Pittsburgh Pirates during the 1986 season, the Mets scooped him up and he immediately came back to life and played a big part during the second half of that championship season.

Jeromy Burnitz (5, 20) was a first-round draft pick of the Mets and was less than spectacular when he debuted during the 1993 and ’94 campaigns. So he was shipped out to Cleveland and after a brief stay ended up with the Milwaukee Brewers. It was in Milwaukee that Burnitz flourished and in five seasons averaged 33 home runs and 102 RBI. So the Mets brought him back in time for the 2002 season and, again, he was less than spectacular. And so, again, he was shipped out during the 2003 season.

NEW YORK – CIRCA 1973: Rusty Staub #4 of the New York Mets bats against the Cincinnati Reds during an Major League Baseball game circa 1973 at Shea Stadium in the Queens borough of New York City. Staub played for the Mets from 1972-75 and 1981-85. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

Mets Right Fielders

The Mets always seemed to be looking for that coveted power bat in right field. And they had one…once…Darryl Strawberry. But the troubled guy with the world of talent packed his bags and left to head home to Los Angeles, never to return. But another big bat who toiled in right field for the Mets did, in fact, return.

Rusty Staub (4, 10) was one of the most beloved Mets to ever where the uniform. And he deserved it. He was successful everywhere he went. He accumulated over 2,000 base hits and, believe it or not, smacked 500 for four different teams – Houston Astros, Montreal Expos, Mets, Detroit Tigers. And although he did it for the Mets, his time with the Mets was not his most productive.

Rusty was the player that Gil Hodges coveted prior to the 1972 season. Unfortunately, Hodges didn’t live to see it. Rusty was injured quite a bit during his first tour with the Mets, although he led the team to the 1973 World Series. He was sent away following the 1974 season for an over the hill Mickey Lolich and some guy named Billy Baldwin.

When he came back in 1981, he was a shell of himself. But spent four seasons playing first base, some outfield, and a lot of pinch hitting. The shame of it all was that, because of personnel numbers, he was forced to retire at the end of the 1985 season at the age of 41 and missed being a part of the ’86 championship team. Keith Hernandez attributes a lot to Rusty and credits him for a lot of success achieved by the players of that generation.

Jay Bruce (19) was acquired during the 2016 stretch run when the Mets were looking for a big bat. Bruce had averaged 26 home runs over eight plus seasons with the Cincinnati Reds. When the team fell out of contention in 2017, they sold the soon-to-be free agent to the Indians for some prospects. The Mets re-signed him and brought him back for 2018, only to see him flounder, and they dumped him after a horrible season.

NEW YORK – CIRCA 1969: Pitcher Tom Seaver #41 of the New York Mets pitches during an Major League Baseball game circa 1969 at Shea Stadium in the Queens borough of New York City. Seaver played for the Mets from 1967-77,83. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

Mets Starting Pitchers

How could it have happened? The face of the organization? Players come and players go. But the big head-scratcher is right here.

Tom Seaver (41) is the perfect example of everything that was wrong with the Mets organization. Yes…that’s what I said. His statistics with the Mets are nothing short of amazing. But his presence goes so far beyond those numbers.

The man that gave legitimacy to the Mets, was sent packing by ownership, specifically, by M. Donald Grant. The “Franchise” was traded for a mere bag of balls on what has been called “The Midnight Massacre” on June 15, 1977. All because he wasn’t the “good little soldier” that Grant liked to see. The next ownership, the new regime, decided to bring Tom Terrific back for the 1983 season. But they also bungled it. The “brain trust” left him off the 40-man roster and he was selected by the Chicago White Sox and was, gulp, gone again.

And then the Wilpons took control, got a stadium built, and there is more reverence for the Brooklyn Dodgers than the Mets. Where’s the statue of Tom Seaver? He certainly deserved it, and truly deserved to witness it before he passed. Just shameful.

David Cone (44, 17, 16) came to the Mets in an unheralded trade with the Kansas City Royals following the 1986 season. There wasn’t much thought of it until he broke out during the 1988 season and went 20-3. Cone was a dominant fixture in the Mets rotation for five-plus seasons while winning 80 games and striking out more than 1,100 batters.

He was exiled during the 1992 season in the trade with the Toronto Blue Jays that brought Jeff Kent to the Mets. Cone would enjoy success with the Jays, as well as in his second tour with the Royals, before landing with the Yankees and spending some productive seasons during their dynasty of the late 90’s. In 2003 he tried to make a comeback with the Mets at age 40 and was not effective and soon retired to the broadcast booth.

PITTSBURGH, PA – AUGUST 04: Jeurys Familia #27 of the New York Mets in action during the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on August 4, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) /

Mets Relief Pitchers

Relief pitchers are truly a conundrum. You just never know what you’re going to get…like the prize in a box of Cracker Jack. So try them once, and then maybe try them again?

Jeurys Familia (27) was the “savior” in 2015 when Jenrry Mejia was suspended and saved 43 games in 2015 and led the league with 51 saves in 2016. It was downhill from there. Another Mets reliever failure and then vilified. He saved only six games in 2017 and then was traded off to the Oakland A’s for the 2018 stretch run. The Mets signed him and brought him back as a free agent for the 2019 season but he has never been able to recapture what he did in 2015-16.

Jason Isringhausen (29, 44, 45) came up as a member of the Mets’ heralded “Generation K” in 1995 and he burst onto the scene with a 9-2 record and 2.81 ERA. But it all fell apart for him and arm injuries sidetracked his career. He was forced to sit out the entire 1998 season and resurrected his career as a reliever with the Oakland A’s.

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After a couple of nice seasons out of the pen, he moved on to the St. Louis Cardinals and became a dominant closer for seven years. Isringhausen did not play in 2010, and tried to make a comeback with the Mets in 2011 at the age of 38. He was not very effective and moved on to the Angels for one more season before retiring.

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