3 recent instances where a Mets player burned a bridge with the fans after leaving

When a player leaves their team, they can do it with grace if handled correctly. Taking out an advertisement somewhere to say “thanks” is the traditional thing to do. A tweet. An Instagram post. We’ve seen plenty of New York Mets players leave the team with their bridge fully intact.

It’s not always the case. These three recent examples prove not even some of the most important guys will get an ovation when their tribute video plays once they return to Citi Field. For different reasons, each left with a burned bridge between them and the fans.

1) Noah Syndergaard

Beloved early on, Noah Syndergaard is one of the biggest personalities to pass through the Mets locker room in recent years. He was the kind of guy they needed in 2015 and 2016 as they competed for a title. His talent matched his toughness. Unfortunately, injuries and some less stellar seasons after the first year and a half made him more of a rumored franchise icon than one who actually lived up to the hype.

Many fans stayed loyal to him. He was one of the first truly entertaining MLB players on social media. Syndergaard no doubt has a sense of humor. There did come a point late in his Mets tenure where being trendy on Twitter looked more important than his success on the field.

The huge blow came when Syndergaard required Tommy John Surgery in 2020 which essentially ended his time with the Mets. It didn’t have to. As the choice of accepting a qualifying offer from the Mets weighed on him post-2021, all signs pointed toward Syndergaard’s desire to stay with the Mets. That was until the Los Angeles Angels offered him more money.

Syndergaard appeared to use the Mets for some leverage in getting his $21 million from the Angels. Not a significant amount more than the $18.4 million he would’ve received from the Mets if he accepted the qualifying offer, what rubbed some the wrong way was how he reportedly didn’t give his now-former team a chance to match the offer.

Syndergaard hasn’t been anywhere close to the same pitcher he was in the years since. Add in his trolling of the Mets’ no-hitter in 2022 and a once-fan favorite turned into an enemy.