3 blockbuster NY Mets trades that changed the franchise for the best, 2 that didn't

Three players who came to the Mets with a lot of hype and delivered. Two who had the opposite results.
New York Mets v Pittsburgh Pirates
New York Mets v Pittsburgh Pirates | George Gojkovich/GettyImages
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The Jim Fregosi trade was a massive failure both ways for the Mets

Jim Fregosi was supposed to change the situation at third base for the Mets. A star player in the 1960s for the California Angels who regularly factored into the MVP race, the star shortstop joined the Mets after a down season in 1971. He batted only .233 and was limited to 107 games due to injury. Seeing as he set record highs with 33 doubles, 22 home runs, and 82 RBI all while slashing .278/.353/.459 in 1970, the Mets showed no fear in acquiring him.

The plan was to move Fregosi to third base. It didn’t go so well. The injuries continued with Fregosi posting nearly identical numbers from the season before in about the same number of games. He slashed .232/.311/.344 in 101 games for the Mets in 1973. The following season, after 45 games of yet again not meeting expectations with a .234/.340/.282 slash line and not a single home run, the Mets sold him to the Texas Rangers.

The failed attempt at adding a star to the team post-1969 championship became far more notorious because of what the Mets gave up to get him. Four players were traded for Fregosi, the most notable by two laps around the earth being Nolan Ryan, MLB’s all-time strikeout king.