15 worst trades in Mets history

What’s the worst trade the New York Mets have ever made? You might already have something in mind. Our line of thinking probably is similar, too.

But what about those other terrible trades in franchise history? Not every trade was like acquiring Yoenis Cespedes in 2015 or Gary Carter in the mid-1980s. Some trades were downright awful.

Considering all elements of trades—what was given up, expectations for the player(s), what was received, and anything else we think of when grading deals—these are the 15 worst the Mets have ever made with one exception: the infamous Seattle Mariners trade is not yet worthy of this list because we don’t really know what the Mets gave up. Maybe in the future, not too distantly, we squeeze it in.

Dishonorable Mention: Everything the Mets did at the 2017 trade deadline

The trades the Mets made at the 2017 trade deadline are like potato chips; I can’t pick just one.

I can’t imagine a team has ever had a worse string of trades with so little in return. It’s not like everything they dumped was complete garbage either. There was some talent dealt away.

It began with trading Lucas Duda on July 27 to the Tampa Bay Rays for Drew Smith. By miles the best trade they did make, things would go on to get worse.

A day later, they actually added AJ Ramos in a trade with the Miami Marlins. A curious move at the time because they were clearly selling, Ramos would go 2-2 with a 5.59 ERA in 38.2 innings for the Mets.

Three days later, closer Addison Reed was dealt to the Boston Red Sox for three prospects that never did much at all.

The trades continued into August with Jay Bruce going to the Cleveland Indians for Ryder Ryan—later traded to the Texas Rangers for Todd Frazier in 2020. They moved Neil Walker to the Milwaukee Brewers for Eric Hanhold.

To top it all off, fan favorite Curtis Granderson went to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Jacob Rhame. Rhame was nobody’s favorite except for Mrs. Rhame.