15 worst trades in Mets history

11) NY Mets Worst Trades: Acquiring Oliver Perez from the Pirates

Just outside of our top ten is a deal many fans still have gripes about. I can understand why. Even with hindsight, it feels like a bad move from the start.

On July 31, 2006, the Mets were a few weeks away from clinching the division title and going on what could have been a run to the World Series. One of their moves at the trade deadline was to call up the Pittsburgh Pirates and inquire about Oliver Perez and Roberto Hernandez. In exchange for outfielder Xavier Nady, the deal was executed.

Speaking of executions, Perez was having the kind of year to forget about in 2006 as a member of the Pirates. At the time of the trade he was 2-10 with a 6.63 ERA in 15 starts. Things hardly got better in New York. Year one with the team resulted in a 1-3 record and 6.38 ERA in 7 starts.

This trade had a few layers to it because of where it eventually led. Still a very young pitcher with promise, the Mets saw better performances from Perez in 2007 and 2008 despite some continued struggles to find the plate. When he reached free agency after the 2008 season, the club invited him back. From there, things just got worse.

Perez was 3-4 with a 6.82 ERA in 2009 during his 66 innings as a starter. The following year, which included a move to the bullpen at one point, saw him go 0-5 with a 6.80 ERA. Those last two years were especially rough with Perez averaging 8 walks per nine innings, beating out the 7.9 strikeouts per nine he posted.

None of this disaster would have been likely if not for the original trade that first brought him to Queens.

As for Nady, he was a .301/.353/.482 hitter in parts of three seasons with the Pirates. You can’t tell me he wouldn’t have been a valuable piece to keep around in some way.