The Mets trade deadline influence is alive and well in the MLB playoffs

A few former players of the New York Mets who were traded at this year's trade deadline have left quite an imprint on this year's MLB playoff field. It's a bitter pill to swallow for many Mets fans after the expectations that surrounded this year's team with hopes of reaching a World Series, only to have many of those expected key contributors participating in the playoffs for other organizations.

Both Tommy Pham and Justin Verlander have been key contributors for their respective teams since being acquired and are in part a big reason why each of their teams are playing in the Championship Series. While Max Scherzer was also doing his part for the Texas Rangers, he has been plagued by a shoulder injury that has sidelined him throughout the playoffs to this point.

A few former Mets players are making an impact in this year's postseason

It's also important to remember that Mark Canha, who caught fire over the last several weeks of the season, was a huge contributor for the Milwaukee Brewers as well. Cnaha was a big reason why the Brewers had made the postseason this year, despite being eliminated by Tommy Pham and the Arizona Diamondbacks in the wild-card round.

To add further salt to the wound, three of the Mets' division rivals the Miami Marlins, Philadelphia Phillies, and Atlanta Braves all made the postseason in a year the Mets were expected to contend for the World Series. Combine that with the previously mentioned players who were traded away at this year's Trade Deadline still alive and well in the postseason, it makes for a not-so-ideal October for Mets fans.

The Mets are heading in the right direction by retooling their farm system at this year's trade deadline and unloading some salaries. One can hope this time next year we will be talking about the Mets being major players in October, rather than watching other organizations utilize our former players and continuously wondering, "What if?"