1
2012
Mets All Time Trade Deadline Deals
An article by 
Everyone is talking about the fact that the Mets did nothing at the trade deadline. In reality, what were their options? We all know that they don’t have the money or the personnel to make any kind of meaningful trade.
It started me thinking about other deadline deals that the Mets did make. Here are just a few that stand out to me:
July 31, 2006 - Mets acquire Roberto Hernandez and Oliver Perez from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for Xavier Nady.
I remember this trade well because Nady was one of my favorite Mets. I was shocked when he was traded for Hernandez and Perez, but at the time I thought it was the Mets’ only option. Remember that Duaner Sanchez was injured in that freak taxi accident and Omar Minaya tried to deal for a reliever because we were fighting for a playoff spot. At first, Perez pitched well winning 15 games in 2007 and Omar looked like a genius, buthow is that trade looking now? By the way, Nady was just cut and is available – just saying…
July 30, 2004 - Mets trade Scott Kazmir and Jose Diaz to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for Bartolome Fortunato and Victor Zambrano
When I think about this trade, I think about opportunity lost. We all saw what Kazmir was capable of and he has 5 1/2 solid seasons before his mysterious decline. Diaz and Zambrano never did pan out. Still so frustrating even all these years later.
July 31, 2002 - Mets acquire Steve Reed and Jason Middlebrook from San Diego in exchange for Bobby Jones, minor leaguer Josh Reynolds and minor leaguer Jason Bay.
Yes, Mets fans – we actually had Jason Bay way back in 2002. But the big difference is that he was a minor leaguer that the Mets were willing to part with in order to get Reed. Bay went to San Diego and started to put up the numbers that we wish he could do now. Reed was just OK for the Mets and I can honestly say that I don’t recall what Middlebrook did in his Mets career. And now, Mets fans wish that Sandy Alderson could have put together a deal to send Bay to another team and get some prospects back.
Of course, there was one notable trade deadline deal that sent Tom Seaver to the Reds on June 15, 1977 when the deadline used to be much earlier. And even non-deadline deals like the Nolan Ryan for Jim Fregosi trade – whatever became of that Ryan kid?
Why does it always seem like the Mets never know what to do at the trade deadline? I don’t think we had a choice this year – we just didn’t have the resources and Sandy was right in not trading Scott Hairston. But it would have been nice to make some kind of news on July 31.
I heard someone say yesterday that the Mets are now better because the Marlins and Phillies held fire sales during the past month. I don’t know if this is the case, but it does make those teams weaker. We need to seize this opportunity and find a way to win against these teams in our division. Let’s see if by making no noise at the deadline, the Mets can generate big noise coming down the home stretch.
(pictures courtesy of nyfuturestars.com)
About the Author: Clare Lafferty
A Mets fan since 1968, Clare lives in southern New Jersey in a suburb near Philadelphia.. Her first favorite Met was Cleon Jones and my current one is David Wright. My favorite Mets moment aside from Game 6 was Robin Ventura's grand slam single.
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NL East Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braves | 25 | 18 | .581 | - |
| Nationals | 23 | 21 | .523 | 2.5 |
| Phillies | 21 | 23 | .477 | 4.5 |
| Mets | 17 | 24 | .415 | 7.0 |
| Marlins | 12 | 32 | .273 | 13.5 |
Last updated: 05/19/2013
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When that Kazmir trade went down I couldnt believe it was true or that our GM saw that as a good move. It would like trading Harvey for Brad Penny today. I was furious. lol
When I saw the Mets traded Kazmir for Zambrano, I thought we had just traded for Carlos Zambrano and I was so excited. Then I saw it was a trade with Tampa Bay and I was confused. Then I saw it was for V. Zambrano and I said “Who the hell is Victor Zambrano?!”
i thought the same thing – i had no idea who victor zambrano was
Didn’t we acquire a catcher at the trade deadline one year? What the heck was his name again? Mike something?
hey Mykey – that deal happened on May 22nd. Not a deadline deal
My bad. Thought that was at the deadline!
I think the Clendennon deal might be one of the only trade deadline deals that didnt bite us you know where.
Donn Clendenon- June 15, 1969**** OLD TRADING DEADLINE: Traded by the Montreal Expos to the New York Mets for Bill Carden (minors), Dave Colon (minors), Kevin Collins and Steve Renko.
Kevin Collins by the way was involved in one of the biggest Mets fights ever. 1968 he was playing 3rd base against the Astros. Doug Radar slide into 3rd base and elbowed Collins. Mets stood up for Collins and Agee, Jones, Cardwell and Swoboda took care of Radar and the Astros. You can probably google it.
I was watching that game, that stinking Rader he elbowed Collins right in the face on a pop-up slide. It was perhaps the dirtiest thing I’ve ever seen on a baseball field. Collins was looking into the outfield and never saw it coming. He went down like a ton of bricks, knocked out cold. The Mets beat the crap out of the Astros in the ensuing fight. I never hated anyone as much as I hated Doug Rader for many years after that.
On a lighter note: Welcome to MMO Clare!
thanks! so glad to be a small part of this great site!
“i’m so glad we got Jason Bay back !” – said nobody ever.
Ha! Ha!
I remember a cetain deadline deal last year with a certain west coast team in need of a center fielder. Thats looking like an all time best trade deadline deal