The 3 worst NY Mets General Managers in franchise history ranked

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Complaining? We all love to complain about how the New York Mets are run, and about the decisions that are made. But who’s responsible? So who do we blame?

Most of the fault is thrust upon the general manager of any baseball team. And the Mets have had some pretty inept general managers…some worse than others.

Here are the three worst general managers in New York Mets history:

3. Brodie Van Wagenen was way out of his league as general manager of the New York Mets.

Brodie Van Wagenen was a very curious choice. He was brought in late in 2018 to replace Sandy Alderson who was stepping down for health reasons. He was an agent. He was not a baseball front office executive, nor was he anyone’s protégé. The Mets have made strange moves over the years, and this lived up to the organization’s reputation for dysfunction.

Van Wagenen sold the Mets a bill of goods as Yoenis Cespedes’ agent…when he talked them into re-negotiating a three-year contract (Cespedes opted out after Year 1) into a five-year contract that made him the highest paid player (at the time) in Mets history. Of course, we all know what happened with Cespedes.

So the Mets decided to make him their General Manager. And he immediately acquires, and signs, a couple of his former clients – Robinson Cano (trade) and Jed Lowrie (free agent signing). Both acquisitions were terrible debacles. Yeah, yeah, yeah…the Mets got Edwin Diaz in the deal for Cano. But Diaz, in reality, has had one super season (2022) and the rest have been pedestrian, or worse.

Van Wagenen had no business being the GM of the Mets…or ANY baseball team for that matter. And he was quickly and summarily dismissed at the end of the 2020 season…a short tenure that still is fresh in the minds of Mets fans.

Van Wagenen will always be remembered as the GM who brought in Robinson Cano, who would hardly play, and Jed Lowrie, who would NEVER play, and for giving away Jarrod Kelenic – at the time, the Mets top prospect.

2. Al Harazin's term as New York Mets GM was like giving a kid a credit card and them not knowing how to use it

When Frank Cashen retired after the 1990 season, Al Harazarin took over for the 1991 campaign.

Harazin had the unfortunate situation of having to take over during the transition years after the mid to late 80’s of dominance. But he had the good fortune of being able to spend money.

That has not been very common in the history of the New York Mets franchise…at least pre-Steve Cohen. The Wilpons had no yearning to spend any money. But when Hazarin was GM, Nelson Doubleday was still a partner and had a say. And he say “go ahead and spend.”

And spend he did. Hazarin turned the Mets into the worst team money could buy. He brought in guys like Bret Saberhagen and Vince Coleman and, of course, Bobby Bonilla. All three were problems in the clubhouse and horrible on the field. As a result, Hazarin, himself, was gone after the 1992 season.

Hazarin will always be remembered as the GM who spent so much money on some of the worst guys – guys like Bobby Bonilla, Vince Coleman, and Bret Saberhagen.

1. Joe McDonald was the GM of the New York Mets who took them from the penthouse to the outhouse.

Joe McDonald became the General Manager of the New York Mets at the end of what was probably the greatest time period in their history. He took over from Bob Scheffing who was at the helm from 1970 through the 1974 season.

Scheffing had taken over after Johnny Murphy passed away. And he had kept the organization in a steady mode following the 1969 Miracle Season and through the 1973 Ya Gotta Believe campaign. However, things began to fall apart in 1974 and Scheffing paid the price.

McDonald was hired after having moved up the organization’s ladder. And although he was handed the General Manager title…he wasn’t the one running the show. He had the misfortune of having M. Donald Grant controlling everything.

The 1975 to 1979 period is probably the darkest era in New York Mets history. Yes, guys like Amos Otis and Nolan Ryan were traded in two of the Mets worst trades before McDonald even took over. But the rest of the team was systematically dismantled, in some of the most bizarre trades, during this period.

For example, the Mets traded Wayne Garrett and Del Unser for Jim Dwyer and Pepe Mangual. They traded Rusty Staub for Mickey Lolich and Billy Baldwin. How about Dave Kingman for Bobby Valentine? They traded…come on…everyone knows this one…Tom Seaver for Pat Zachry, Doug Flynn, Steve Henderson, and Dan Norman.

The Mets were absolutely brutal. It was painful to watch.

McDonald will always be remembered as the GM who traded Tom Seaver. And that’s enough to be considered the worst GM in Mets history.

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The 3 worst Mets General Managers in team history ranked

3. Brodie Van Wagenen was way out of his league as general manager of the New York Mets.

2. Al Harazin's term as New York Mets GM was like giving a kid a credit card and them not knowing how to use it

1. Joe McDonald was the GM of the New York Mets who took them from the penthouse to the outhouse.

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