3 recent Mets trade deadline deals that aged well, 3 getting worse each day

The trade deadline is a time for a general manager to show his true might. The offseason allows them to spend the owner’s money. It’s in the middle of the season when they need to use their smarts. New York Mets fans have experienced the highs and lows of both sides. Recently, it does feel like there have been more lows.

Going back to the 2019 trade deadline when it was still Brodie Van Wagenen calling the shots, there are three Mets trades that have aged pretty well while another three looking worse by the day.

Unfortunately, it’s those bad ones that were much easier to find.

NY Mets trade deadline deal that aged well: Rich Hill from the Rays

The 2021 Mets were in need of a starting pitching boost and they managed to snag Rich Hill from the Tampa Bay Rays. A surplus of starting pitching allowed the Rays to trade him while they remained competitive.

Hill came to the Mets with a 6-4 record and 3.87 ERA in 19 starts for Tampa Bay. He had an almost identical ERA in New York at 3.84. The big difference was his 1-4 record. Just as soon as Hill arrived in Queens the Mets’ season spiraled further out of control. Taijuan Walker was a different pitcher. Carlos Carrasco returned from his season-long IL stint only to never find any semblance of his former self.

Hill was a pure rental for the Mets who, under different circumstances, could have gone down as one of the better trade deadline deals the team has made. Consider what they gave up. Tommy Hunter was on the IL and would actually end up coming back to the Mets the following year. The lone minor leaguer the Mets gave up, Matthew Dyer, is still in the minors and in search of a position after moving away from catcher.

The Mets managed to get a solid veteran for very little in return. This deal didn’t get them to the postseason but it should fall into the win column for New York.