May
3
2012

Trades of the Past: Bobby Ojeda

An article by Barry Duchan

Continuing this series of posts on the best trades the Mets ever made, if Bernard Gilkey was the only hitter to have a career year after being traded to the Mets, then Bob Ojeda was clearly the first, last, and only pitcher to similarly have a career year after coming to Flushing.

Ojeda had been a decent, if unspectacular starting pitcher for the Red Sox for a few seasons. The Mets had been impressed with the work another former Boston lefty, John Tudor, had done with the Cardinals and were seeking a similar pitcher, so they inquired about Ojeda. Coming off a 1985 season in which he was 9-11 with a 4.00 ERA, Ojeda was definitely obtainable, but the Sox were still able to attract what seemed like a pretty hefty price from the Mets.

Calvin Schiraldi was among the Mets’ best young pitching prospects, Wes Gardner looked like the Mets’ best young reliever and John Christensen and Laschelle Tarver were AAA outfielders who looked ready to contribute on the big league level. The Mets sent all 4 to Boston for Ojeda, a pretty good minor league pitcher named John Mitchell, and a couple of other minor leaguers, Chris Bayer, and Tom McCarthy. At the time of the deal, few fans expected Ojeda to be anything more than a fourth or fifth starter and it looked like the Mets were overpaying in prospects for a mediocre pitcher.

But Ojeda had a tremendous year for the World Champion Mets in 1986, going 18-5, 2.57 and placing fourth in the Cy Young balloting. An off-season freak injury made 1987 a lost year for Ojeda, and after that, he was just so-so for the Mets, but his big year in 1986 made this trade one of the best ever for the Mets.

Although the Mets have dealt for one-time aces throughout their history from Warren Spahn and Dean Chance to Frank Viola, Bret Saberhagen and Johan Santana, it was the Ojeda deal that will remain as the only one in which an established pitcher went on to have a career year right after the Mets acquired him.

Since 2009, Bobby Ojeda has been the lead Mets analyst on SNY's pre and post game coverage.

About the Author: Barry Duchan

I've been following the Mets since 1962. Have to admit I was a Yankee fan as a kid, but I found it to be so much more interesting to see how a young team could build itself up rather than following a team where the season didn't really begin until October. I remember them all - Casey, Marv, ChooChoo, Don Bosch, The Stork, etc. As the years went on, I became more and more of a Mets fan, and a Yankee hater once Steinbrenner and Billy Martin entered the picture. After retiring, I relocated with my family from Long Island to Chapel Hill, NC in 2005. I spend a lot of my time now checking out all the various Mets blogs. Fortunately, I still get to watch almost all of the Mets games (except those that are blacked out here).

11 Comments + Add Comment

Caryn May 3, 2012 at 2:28 pm

Great trade no doubt, it’s the gift that keeps on giving because he still entertains us every night. I love Bobby!
jerseymet May 3, 2012 at 2:37 pm

It was Bobby’s personal wamth that made him avalable. He still has that intensity. Bob you have to do something about the hair.
- Metstheory22 May 3, 2012 at 4:42 pm
  
  Not sure if it is his. Remember he was almost killed in boating accident.
stick May 3, 2012 at 2:44 pm

well, that trade was like 2 in 1, since it also put Calvin on the Red Sox! Maybe he was actually a double agent?
Kranepool7 May 3, 2012 at 2:55 pm

Ojeda may even be the only player that had a career year after we acquired him. We had great years from Piazza and Carter and Keith but I’m pretty certain they already had their career years after we got them.
- Original Mets Fan May 3, 2012 at 7:08 pm
  
  In addition to the two that the others mentioned, I would throw Kevin McReynolds name in there as well. He had a nice 4 year stretch after the Mets traded for him.
stick May 3, 2012 at 3:50 pm

no, there was another guy. Lance Johnson. outlier good year, set career highs in everything but HRs (that was off by 1).

Only year he was an AS or got MVP votes (shockingly, he finished 18th!)
Metstheory22 May 3, 2012 at 4:43 pm

Bernard Gilkey was pretty good in first year.
Bayonne Mets Fan May 3, 2012 at 7:12 pm

Rick Reed, Turk Wendell, Dennis Cook are among other players that had their best years after being acquired by the Mets helping the team to the playoffs. John Maine had his greatest success after being acquired by the Mets too and he most definitely helped them during 2006 & 2007.

Bobby O certainly deserves praise I guess statistically Bobby O had the best year for a pitcher after being acquired by the Mets and helped them win the World Series but there were plenty of other pitchers that had their best seasons that without – the Mets would not have been as successful
saltygary May 3, 2012 at 7:26 pm

Acquisitions that were better once they went to Mets…

How about David Cone? Yea he was a rookie but the Mets stole him.

The guys that Bay listed above (Rick Reed, Turk Wendell, Dennis Cook) are perfect examples.

Trachsel? As much as the guy drove us nuts, his career numbers were better with the Mets and after he had his stint in the minors he was very effective.
Amazin May 4, 2012 at 7:03 am

How about George Stone. Is 12-3 with a 2 something ERA after a totally mediocre career not a career year? What a bout Grote? A bum before coming to Flushing. One and only????? Far from it.

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