3 worst Mets trades since Steve Cohen took over as owner

When Steve Cohen took over as the owner of the New York Mets, things have been different in Flushing. The team spends the extra millions needed to give themselves the most credible roster possible. It has brought even the mildest of Mets fans on board for what should be a lengthy golden period in the franchise’s history.

Not every transaction the team has made turned out well. If that were the case, we would have a championship by now.

The Mets haven’t been especially active in big trades. However, a couple of them haven’t gone so well already.

3) NY Mets worst trade since Steve Cohen took over: Tyler Naquin from the Reds

The Tyler Naquin trade won’t go down in history as one of the worst in Mets history. Not in the least. Even if the two players they did give up for him and Phillip Diehl become major leaguers, it’s hard to imagine this one becoming as notorious as some other trades in the team’s history.

What makes the Naquin deal so bad is that he didn’t produce in his limited time with the club. Naquin slashed .203/.246/.390 for the team in 130 plate appearances. Half of his home runs came in one early August game went he knocked two out of the park against the Atlanta Braves.

More damning is the fact that Naquin didn’t even make the postseason roster for the Mets. The team didn’t have a desperate need for him given the construction of the rest of the roster. They needed a right-handed bat over the left-handed one he brought. It’s why the team ultimately kept a pair of righty DH options over him.

The Naquin trade will be mostly forgotten—until one of the minor leaguers debuts for the Cincinnati Reds and we’re reminded of it constantly.

2) NY Mets worst trade since Steve Cohen took over: Joey Lucchesi from the Padres

Joey Lucchesi came to the Mets in a three-team trade prior to the 2021 season. He was used on a limited basis in 2021, logging 38.1 total innings as a starter and reliever. Tommy John Surgery ended his year about midway through. He wasn’t able to get back on the major league field again in 2022 which only makes this trade a little worse.

Lucchesi’s lack of playing time is only a part of why this is a weak trade under the Cohen regime. The 4.46 ERA he delivered in 2021 is the tip of this tale.

The trade itself included the San Diego Padres and the Pittsburgh Pirates. For a little irony, this was the same trade that sent Joe Musgrove from Pittsburgh to San Diego. Mets fans will know Musgrove best as the man who helped take them down in Game 3 of the NLWC Series while putting them away for good.

But as far as the trade goes, the Mets essentially sent minor leaguer Endy Rodriguez to Pittsburgh to receive Lucchesi from San Diego. Rodriguez had a huge year on the farm in 2022. He slashed .323/.407/.590 in 531 trips to the plate. He added 25 home runs and drove in 95. These numbers come from combined totals from Single-A all the way up to Triple-A.

Rodriguez is now a true prospect for the Pirates. Capable of catching but also playing other positions as well, the Mets should already wish they had this deal back.