NY Mets: Former Amazins on postseason rosters this October

It’s no surprise there are only a few former New York Mets players on post-season rosters. Maybe a little reassuring in fact actually that the front office didn’t let too many quality players walk who would eventually help their new teams reach October. Let’s take a look at which former Mets made the 26 man roster cut for the eight remaining playoff teams.

Former Mets on the Tampa Bay Rays

P, Colin McHugh

Drafted by the Mets in the 18th round of the 2008 MLB entry draft out of Berry College in Georgia, a Division III school, McHugh spent over four years working his way up through the Mets farm system before making his MLB debut in 2012. McHugh only pitched 28 innings in 2012 and 2013, bouncing back to and from AAA before being traded to the Rockies in 2013 for outfielder Eric Young Jr. McCugh mightily struggled with the Mets, never having his ERA below 7.00 in 2012 or 2013. Now in his age 34 year season McCugh is having the best year of his career, a 1.55 ERA over 64 innings pitched. How do the Rays find these guys???

P, Michael Wacha 

After having a pretty awesome seven-year career with the St. Louis Cardinals that included an all-star game and four years of sub 4.00 era ball, Wacha came to the Mets from the Cardinals in 2020 and only pitched 34 innings because of an injured shoulder. With the Mets Wacha was largely ineffective, posting above a 6.00 ERA. The 30-year old then walked in free agency and the Rays signed him for a one-year, three million dollar deal. He hasn’t been uber effective this year with a 5.05 ERA but he has thrown nearly 125 innings and is a veteran arm that could be useful for the Rays down the stretch.

Former Mets on the Red Sox

C, Kevin Plawecki

The Mets spent a first-round pick on Plawecki out of Purdue in 2012. He made it to the big leagues three years later in 2015 and had a four-year career with the team, splitting time between AAA and the MLB team. To keep it short, Plawecki never really had any good years in New York, just once hitting .260 in 2017 with 100 at-bats. Catchers are valuable and the Red Sox now have signed Plawecki to two separate one-year deals since 2020. Despite not having a full-time role Plawecki has played the best baseball of his career these last two seasons, hitting .341 in 2020 with 82 at-bats and .287 in 2021 with 157 at-bats. He’ll be a good bat off the bench and backup for Christian Vazquez.

P, Hansel Robles

Robles had some good years out of the bullpen with the Mets from 2015 until 2018 when he began to struggle and was dropped to waivers and later picked up by the Los Angeles Angels. The Red Sox acquired the decently traveled Robles from the Twins for a minor league pitcher at the trade deadline this year to add depth to their bullpen. In his 27 games and 25 innings pitched for the Red Sox this year Robles has a 3.60 era and 33 strikeouts, impressive numbers.

Former Mets on the White Sox

OF, Billy Hamilton

For a time Billy Hamilton was the fastest player in baseball, swiping over 50 bags a year from 2014 to 2017 with the Cincinnati Reds. The Mets acquired Hamilton in 2020 and the problem was that his speed left him, the issue was that the guy just couldn’t get on base for the life of him. His on-base percentage in that stint in New York through 17 games before getting designated for assignment was a sad .083, going three for four on stolen base attempts. Lay one down Billy, for Pete’s sake just get on base. The White Sox brought Hamilton on this year on a minor league contract, still an attractive player for his athletic ability in center-field and on the basepaths. Through 127 at-bats with the White Sox this year, Hamilton’s on-base percentage has improved to .242 and he is nine for nine on stolen bases with his new team this season. Hamilton is definitely an asset, especially as a defensive substitute or pinch-runner late in games.

Former Mets on the Los Angeles Dodgers

3B, Justin Turner

The Mets weren’t the only ones to let Justin Turner getaway. There were actually three teams before us who also let him slip. Turner was first drafted by the Yankees in 2005 but declined to sign to return back to Cal State Fullerton. The year after in 2006, the Reds spent a 7th round pick on him and this time he signed for a $50,000 signing bonus. After three strong years spent in the Reds minor league system, and getting as high as AA, Turner was traded in the offseason to the Baltimore Orioles and began and spent the majority of his 2009 season with the Orioles AAA team, the Norfolk Tides. He spent a short period of time at the Major League level with the Orioles but struggled and was designated for assignment near the beginning of the 2010 season. The Mets claimed Turner and sent him to AAA Buffalo. Turner didn’t get his first real MLB action with the Mets until 2011 when he registered 435 at-bats playing second, short and third. That year in 2011, Turner hit a respectable .260 and even won NL rookie of the month for May. Turner spent two more less busy years in New York, hitting .265 in total over 301 games with the Mets from 2010-2013. The Mets chose not to re-sign Turner once his contract expired at the end of 2013, leaving him to sign with the Dodgers, and the rest is history. The rest really was history. In 2014, in Turner’s first year in Dodgers blue, he hit .340 over 288 at-bats. He is now the guy who hit the game-tying home run in the wild card game this year and one of the best third basemen in the majors.

OF, Billy McKinney

McKinney played a huge role with the Mets this year, being brought over from Milwaukee back in May following the injury bug that hit. It was a dark time in the Mets season when Conforto, Nimmo, Pillar, and more were all on the injured list and the Mets were forced to start Cameron Maybin in the outfield who went 1 for 28 in his time with the team. McKinney was at the heart of the bench mob, popping five home runs in under 40 games. Once the regulars came back from the injured list, McKinney was shipped to Los Angeles for a minor leaguer, and good for him, he deserves to be on a major league roster.

Former Mets on the Atlanta Braves

C, Travis d’Arnaud 

d’Arnaud came to the Mets as a  part of that wonderful deal back in 2012 that also brought Noah “Thor” Syndergaard in exchange for the ancient knuckleballer R.A. Dickey. R.A. Dickey, what a guy. d’Arnaud was fine for the Mets, never really anything exceptional. Probably one of those guys believed in more for his potential rather than his actual production. In 2018 d’Arnuad underwent Tommy John surgery to repair a partially torn UCL in his elbow. The Mets designated him for assignment soon afterward. He bounced around with three different teams in 2019, managing to hit .251 with 16 home runs and 69 RBIs. Atlanta took a chance on the catcher, signing him to a lucrative two-year, 16 million dollar deal. In his first year with the Braves, d’Arnaud hit .321 and won the National League Silver Slugger award at the catcher position. Who would have known this guy would learn how to hit once he got to Atlanta. Can’t blame the Mets for letting him go, and good to see him doing so well, even though this year has been some more of a struggle for him in a contract year.

OF, Guillermo Heredia

Heredia was practically just here for a cup of coffee, ok maybe more of an afternoon out to tea at the end of the 2020 season. Seven games, 17 at-bats. He hit .235 and did his job manning center-field. Kevin Pillar and his balls of steel replaced him for the 2021 season. He’s never been a great hitter, usually penciled in the eight spot if included at all. With the BRaves Heredia has been his usual self, hitting .220 and being a good centerfielder.

Former Mets on the Milwaukee Brewers

P, Hunter Strickland

If Guillermo Heredia was around for an afternoon out to tea, Hunter Strickland was around for a breath of air. He pitched four games and three and a third innings for the Mets in 2020. The shortened 2020 season began on July 23rd and Strickland was on the Mets opening day roster. Strickland was designated for assignment a week later on July 30th. Since arriving in Milwaukee back on June 12th this year Strickland has found his groove, throwing 36.1 innings with a 1.73 era. Can’t predict these things.

Want your voice heard? Join the Rising Apple team!

Write for us!

There are no former Mets on the Houston Astros

Now you’ll be able to recognize our former Mets as you watch postseason baseball this year. Let’s see how they do!