12 worst Mets trades and free agent signings since Steve Cohen took over as majority owner

4) Worst NY Mets trade or free agent signing since Steve Cohen took over: Joey Lucchesi trade

It’s ironic that this is the one move I almost forgot to include and it’s one of the earliest made by the Mets under Cohen and continues to have an effect on the club; or at least it could. In January of 2021, the Pittsburgh Pirates sent Joe Musgrove to the San Diego Padres and they sent David Bednar the other way. A couple of other players were involved in the deal, too. The Mets poked their head in and now look like the biggest losers of all.

For the Mets, they acquired Padres pitcher Joey Lucchesi while giving up minor leaguer Endy Rodriguez. They were the least active team in this trade and the obvious bronze medalist.

Lucchesi wasn’t a particularly good pitcher for the Padres and hasn’t been one for the Mets either. He made a handful of starts in 2021 before Tommy John Surgery cut his year short. He returned to big league action in 2023 and has a role as one of the starting pitcher depth pieces. We saw him make a couple starts in early 2023 with a similar outcome as when they used him in 2021.

Acquiring Lucchesi wasn’t a bad move. Having Rodriguez become the player they gave up is what stings. He’s a top 100 prospect in baseball. His 2023 season hasn’t been incredible but the Pirates have room for some patience. He clobbered more than 20 home runs and hit over .300 in the 2022 season. This trade will only get worse.