3 NY Mets trades that continued the Midnight Massacre purge months later

2) Jon Matlack to the Texas Rangers and John Milner to the Pittsburgh Pirates

On December 8, 1977, a Jon and a John were traded away by the Mets. Both were popular players on the roster for a couple of seasons. Pitcher Jon Matlack and arguably the team’s best slugger, John Milner, were each dealt as part of a 4-team deal. Matlack went to the Texas Rangers. Milner joined the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Matlack wrapped up possibly his worst season with the Mets in 1977, but can we blame him? The season was an absolute mess and he was bound to have a down year eventually. Matlack was often overlooked during his New York tenure because he shared his entire tenure with Seaver and Jerry Koosman. If the goal was to sell him before things go worse, it was a bad move. Matlack went 15-13 with an insane 2.27 ERA the first year in Texas.

Milner didn’t enjoy nearly the same level of success with the Pirates aside from winning a championship in 1979 with them. He was done as a regular starter after that season, never having nearly the same impact he had for the Mets.

The return wasn’t anything all that memorable. Willie Montanez came over from the Atlanta Braves. Tom Grieve and Ken Henderson joined them via the Rangers. Montanez had a decent 1978 season but was, oddly enough, traded to the Rangers in 1979. Grieve hit .208 and was gone after one year. Henderson played 7 games and didn’t make it through May of his one season with the team.