NY Mets: 10 notable Mets trades from the month of August

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ST LOUIS, MO – CIRCA 1970: Catcher Jerry Grote #15 of the New York Mets in action against the St Louis Cardinals during an Major League Baseball game circa 1970 at Busch Stadium in St Louis, Missouri. Grote played for the Mets from 1966-77. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

What do you think of when you see the word August? Is it vacation? The heat? Roman Imperial rule? If you’re rooting for the New York Mets on a yearly basis, you might think of some big trades.

August isn’t typically the month when big trades occur. That’s for July. However, because of a few changes in some seasons and the old rule of allowing trades for players who pass through waivers, some notable Mets trades have occurred in the penultimate regular season month of the season.

A mix of good and bad, these are the ten most notable Mets trades that were finalized in August.

August 31, 1977 – Mets trade Jerry Grote to the Dodgers

Just when Mets fans thought the tear down was over, August 31 arrived and one more fan favorite was traded away. It was on this day in 1977 that longtime catcher Jerry Grote was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Grote had already lost the starting catcher job to John Stearns so this trade wasn’t completely ridiculous. Still, it’s notable because of what Grote meant to the Mets.

In return for him, the Mets picked up two guys you think might be made up: Daniel Smith and Randy Rogers. Neither ever made it to the big leagues which has this trade categorized in the “forgettable” file.

I thought it was worth having on this list because of the presence of Grote. The first catcher the club built around, his absence served as another reminder in 1977 that the front office was taking the franchise in a different direction.

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