What a decade for Mets baseball it’s been.
In 2010, the team was still more or less trying to live off their success from 2006 and trying to make a postseason run. After that season ended miserably, the team decided to clean house, relieving general manager Omar Minaya and manager Jerry Manuel of their duties.
Sandy Alderson was brought in to replace Minaya, and he tabbed Terry Collins as his manager. The next step was to rebuild the team.
In 2011, Carlos Beltran was traded away for San Francisco Giants prospect Zack Wheeler. In 2012, R.A. Dickey captured the Cy Young Award with an outstanding campaign, but was sent to the Toronto Blue Jays that winter in exchange for Noah Syndergaard and Travis d’Arnaud.
Alderson continued to rebuild while a contender was blooming, and the Mets ultimately made a World Series run in 2015.
2016 saw the Mets make the playoffs again as a Wild Card team, but after a disastrous 2017 season and a rough beginning to the 2018 season, Alderson was replaced as GM on an interim basis to close out the campaign.
Prior to the 2019 season, agent turned GM, Brodie Van Wagenen, was brought in with hopes to bring New York back to the postseason. Van Wagenen made some questionable moves, but ultimately the Mets finished 86-76 and missed the playoffs by three games.
Now, there is hope for 2020 and beyond, where the Mets will have a new manager to lead a core of young guys to a hopeful playoff spot.
But for now, let’s talk about the 2010s All-Decade Team!
With so much happening the last 10 years in Metsland, let’s take a trip down memory lane and construct a team from the best players at each position through the decade.
Travis d’Arnaud, C
When Travis d’Arnaud was acquired from the Blue Jays for R.A. Dickey, he was viewed as the centerpiece of the package the Mets ended up getting.
While Noah Syndergaard ultimately became the true gem from the deal and d’Arnaud never truly lived up to his star potential, he strung some good years together with New York.
In six plus seasons with the Mets, d’Arnaud compiled a .242/.303/.401 triple slash, with 47 home runs and 164 RBI.
His Mets career was highlighted by hitting three home runs in the 2015 playoffs, as well as batting cleanup in the 2016 Wild Card Game.
Overall during his time in Queens, d’Arnaud was worth 8.8 fWAR, highlighted by a 2015 campaign where he put up 3.4 fWAR in just 67 games.
Honorable mentions: Josh Thole (2.1 fWAR), Wilson Ramos (1.4 fWAR).
Pete Alonso, 1B
Over a full decade, you’d think it’d be unlikely that a player who played just one season would make a list like this, but that’s exactly the case with Pete Alonso.
Fans were calling for Alonso to be called up at the end of 2018, to no avail. However, once Brodie Van Wagenen was tabbed as the new general manager, he preached taking the best team north out of Spring Training.
We can debate that at another time, but he at least stayed true to his word on the Alonso front, as the rookie first baseman had an outstanding Spring and broke camp with the team.
After his debut, the 24-year-old never looked back.
All he did was:
- Win Rookie of the Month honors twice
- Break the National League single season home run record for a rookie
- Break the Mets all-time single season home run record
- Appear in an All-Star Game
- Win the Home Run Derby
- Break the all-time MLB home run record for a rookie
- Lead MLB in home runs (first time ever by a rookie)
- Likely win Rookie of the Year honors
Overall, Alonso hit 53 long balls, racked up 120 RBI, hit to a .260/.358/.583 clip, had a .384 wOBA and a 143 wRC+ to go along with a 5.0 rWAR and a 4.8 fWAR.
Off the field, Alonso proved to be a leader in the clubhouse and demonstrated many captain like qualities. The rookie designed cleats for the whole team to wear on Sept. 11 to honor the victims of the tragedy 18 years ago, as well as donated a portion of his Home Run Derby winnings to multiple charities.
Honorable mentions: Lucas Duda (57 home runs, 6.3 fWAR between 2014-15), Ike Davis (58 home runs, 5.2 fWAR between 2010-12).
Daniel Murphy, 2B
Daniel Murphy had quite the volatile career as a Met.
After coming up at the end of the Shea days in 2008, Murphy lacked a natural position for his first several years as a Met. bouncing from the outfield, to first base, to third base briefly, before being locked in to second base at the end of his Mets tenure.
Overall, Murphy was a quality player for the Mets in his seven seasons in Queens, where his bat mostly carried him and made up for shoddy fielding.
In those seven years, he accumulated 13.6 fWAR and appeared in the 2014 All-Star Game as the Mets representative.
However, we all know what really highlighted Murphy’s time in Queens: his performance in the 2015 postseason.
For a couple weeks that October, Murphy turned into Babe Ruth. In the playoffs, he clubbed seven home runs, including a six-game home run streak which set a MLB record.
In the NLCS against the Cubs that year, Murphy hit to an insane .529/.566/1.294 clip and captured the NLCS MVP honors.
Unfortunately, the Mets chose not to re-sign Murphy that offseason, and he signed with the Washington Nationals on a three-year pact.
In Washington, Murphy went on to blossom into one of the premier hitters in the National League and absolutely destroyed the Mets. But hey, at least we will always have 2015, right?
Honorable mention: Neil Walker (5.0 fWAR in 2016-17).
Asdrubal Cabrera, SS
Asdrubal Cabrera had some ups and downs in Queens, but overall, the former always outshined the latter.
Cabrera was brought aboard for the 2016 campaign in hopes of solidifying the middle infield. He more or less did just that, and will go down as one of the many solid moves Sandy Alderson made as general manager.
In two and a half seasons with the Mets, Cabrera put up 7.2 fWAR before being traded to the Phillies in 2018 for pitching prospect Franklyn Kilome.
In his time with New York, he also clubbed 55 home runs and hit .279/.339/.464. Perhaps Cabrera’s biggest home run for the Mets can be seen below:
The veteran infielder was an integral part of getting the Mets to playoffs in 2016, and even as of 2018 was one of the top offensive contributors on the team.
Honorable mentions: Amed Rosario (2.7 fWAR in 2019, .287/.323/.432 triple slash), Jose Reyes (won batting title in 2011), Wilmer Flores (his 2015 contributions and walk-off record are unmatched), Ruben Tejada (had his leg unfairly broken by Chase Utley in the 2015 NLDS, played in seven total seasons with the Mets this decade).
**This was an extremely hard decision. Overall performance wise, I think Cabrera edges out many of his counterparts from this decade. However, I wanted to make this note to thank Flores for his countless contributions to the Mets. His walk-off home run against the Nationals in 2015 is one of the greatest moments in Mets history and deserves to always be remembered. He was also a fan favorite, so while I think Cabrera edges him out for overall performance, Flores was an integral part of those 2015 Mets.
David Wright, 3B
Oh Captain, my Captain!
It wouldn’t be a list without the captain David Wright himself.
While Wright’s career was ultimately cut short by spinal stenosis, the third baseman was the face of the franchise for many years and was with the Mets through the thick and thin.
He even signed an extension to stay with New York with hopes that the team would turn it around.
With that being said, there was no greater feeling than seeing Wright get to appear in a World Series, and even hit a home run in the lone game the Mets won against the Royals in the Fall Classic.
While Wright was sidelined for most of 2015 and 2016 and missed all of 2017, he still managed to accumulate 20.6 fWAR in the decade. He also got one of the most heartfelt goodbyes in the second to last game of the 2018 season, where he had two at-bats and played five innings in the field.
If you want to relive it, here’s the video. Get ready for some waterworks.
Wright appeared in three All-Star games in the decade and came in sixth in MVP voting in 2012. While his career didn’t end the way he would have liked to, Wright will always be a beloved figure in Mets history and a player countless people my age looked up to and will always love. Thank you for everything, Captain.
Honorable mention: Todd Frazier (3.4 fWAR in 2018-19, 39 total home runs).
Michael Conforto, LF
While Michael Conforto has since shifted to right field, he appeared enough in left to warrant giving him these honors.
Conforto was the Mets first round selection in the 2014 draft and rocketed through the minors, debuting for the Mets in July 2015.
Conforto’s call up was one of the first pieces that jump started the Mets offense that season. He was called up right before the Mets acquired Kelly Johnson and Juan Uribe from Atlanta, then Yoenis Cespedes from the Tigers later that month.
In 2015, Conforto appeared in 56 games for the Mets down the stretch, hitting nine home runs and driving in 26 runs, while logging a triple slash of .270/.335/.506. He also clubbed two home runs in the World Series while hitting .333 as the rest of the lineup around him was more or less cold.
2016 was a down year for Conforto, but the outfielder rebounded in 2017 to hit 27 home runs and appear in an All-Star Game before tearing a capsule in his shoulder that sidelined him the rest of the year and presumably the beginning of 2018.
Conforto returned earlier than expected in 2018, and struggled to begin the season, but rebounded to finish the year with 28 home runs and 82 RBI while having a .243/.350/.448 triple slash.
In 2019, Conforto again produced mightily for the Mets, reaching the 30 home run plateau for the first time in his career, and hitting .257/.363/.494 with a 126 wRC+ and .358 wOBA.
Overall, Conforto racked up 14.0 fWAR in five seasons this decade.
Above is a clutch walk-off from Conforto from earlier this season, in a night where the Mets were playing the rival Washington Nationals and battling tooth and nail for a Wild Card spot.
Honorable mention: J.D. Davis (2.4 fWAR in 2019, 22 home runs and a .307/.369/.527 triple slash).
Yoenis Cespedes, CF
Even though it wasn’t all that long ago, I sometimes think people forget how good Yoenis Cespedes was when he was healthy.
The Cuban slugger was acquired by the Mets at the 2015 trade deadline in exchange for pitching prospects Michael Fulmer and Luis Cessa.
After coming over to New York, Cespedes was a man on fire. In 57 games, the outfielder hit to a .287/.337/.604 clip with 17 home runs and 44 RBI.
It seemed as though it was going to be a one and done year between the Mets and Cespedes due to a strange clause in his contract where the team he was with only had five days to negotiate a deal with him after the end of the season, or else they wouldn’t be able to get a deal done.
However, Cespedes’ agency threw away the clause, and the Mets were able to sign him to a three-year deal with an opt out after the first year.
The following season, Cespedes played 132 games with the Mets and rocked 31 home runs and earned an All-Star game appearance.
Cespedes opted out of his deal that winter, but re-signed with the Mets on a four-year pact.
While the deal hasn’t paid great dividends to the Mets since Cespedes has been injured for most of it, he is going into his contract year in 2020 and could make a comeback attempt.
If not, we will always have 2015 and can fondly look back on Cespedes’ monster stretch to get the Mets to the postseason.
Honorable mentions: Juan Lagares (2014 Gold Glove, 80 career defensive runs saved, 35.3 career UZR), Angel Pagan (5.8 fWAR in 2010-11).
Curtis Granderson, RF
Perhaps the best signing of Alderson’s general manager tenure, Granderson gave Mets fans something to cheer about on the free agent front for the first time in what had been years.
Granderson was the first big signing the Mets had made since Jason Bay in 2010 (yes, I know). It signaled the beginning of a new era in Queens and one that sparked hope for the future for the first time in years.
In his time in New York, Granderson hit 95 home runs, drove in 247 runs, hit .239/.341/.444 and racked up 11.9 fWAR.
But perhaps the most miraculous feat for Granderson? He didn’t spend a day on the injured list during his time with the Mets. He appeared in 573 games for the Amazin’s in three and a half years overall.
Off the field, Granderson became a fan favorite with his big smile, bubbly demeanor and veteran clubhouse presence.
He was ultimately shipped off in 2017 to the Los Angeles Dodgers for reliever Jacob Rhame, and continued his illustrious career with the Miami Marlins as of this past year.
Honorable mention: Brandon Nimmo (7.1 fWAR since 2016, .385 wOBA and 148 wRC+ in 2018).
Jeff McNeil, UTIL
You didn’t think I forgot about Jeff McNeil, did you?
Of course not! I love Flying Squirrels!
McNeil was originally drafted by the Mets in the 12th round of the 2013 draft. He frequently appeared in the Mets top 30 prospects on MLB Pipeline, but was always ranked low on the list.
The infielder/outfielder was injured a decent amount in the minors, but always hit when he was healthy.
In 2018, McNeil was finally healthy and showed everyone what he was made of.
He earned a call up midway through the campaign and hasn’t looked back since.
In a year and a half, McNeil has racked up 7.3 fWAR, and is coming off a campaign where he earned a trip to the All-Star Game and hit .318/.384/.513 with 23 home runs and 75 RBI in 133 games with the Amazin’s.
For the future, McNeil has solidified himself as a fixture in the Mets lineup and someone who can always get on base and set up an inning, while also being able to muscle up and punch one out of the stadium.
Jacob deGrom, SP
It’s hard to imagine that back in 2014, deGrom was overshadowed by Rafael Montero, who was called up a day before him.
In fact, deGrom was going to come up and pitch out of the bullpen for the Mets that year, but entered the rotation as a fill in for Dillon Gee, who was injured.
DeGrom hasn’t looked back since.
The lanky right-hander registered a 2.69 ERA, 2.67 FIP, 3.03 xFIP and 1.140 WHIP with 144 strikeouts the rest of the way that season. All he did after that was capture Rookie of the Year honors and punch out eight straight batters to begin a game which tied an MLB record.
In 2015, deGrom appeared in his first All-Star Game where he fanned three batters on 10 pitches and finished the year with a 2.54 ERA, 2.70 FIP and 205 strikeouts in 30 games started.
However, in 2018 is when deGrom officially established himself as one of the marquee pitchers in the game. He represented the Mets in the All-Star Game again, but that was just the tip of the iceberg. The Florida native logged an insane 1.70 ERA, 218 ERA+, 1.98 FIP, 2.60 xFIP and struck out 269 batters in 217 innings pitched. Oh, and he also only let up 10 home runs. The entire season.
DeGrom captured his first ever Cy Young, almost unanimously, and inked a five-year extension with the Mets prior to the 2019 campaign.
In 2019, deGrom again is on his way to another Cy Young Award with 7.0 fWAR a 2.43 ERA, 2.67 FIP, 3.11 xFIP and 255 strikeouts in 204 innings pitched.
The righty has proven to be not only an ace, but a workhorse, as he has pitched in over 1,100 innings since debuting midway through 2014.
Overall, deGrom has logged 31.5 total fWAR and has established himself not just as the ace of the Mets staff currently, but one of the best pitchers in franchise history.
Honorable mentions: Johan Santana (first no-hitter in Mets history), R.A. Dickey (2012 Cy Young Award), Noah Syndergaard (18.8 fWAR, 2016 All-Star), Matt Harvey (14.0 fWAR from 2012-16) and Zack Wheeler (12.6 fWAR from 2014-19).
Jeurys Familia, Closer
Jeurys Familia has seen better days in a Mets uniform, as he had a disastrous 2019 campaign, but once upon a time, was a dominant force out of the Mets bullpen, especially in 2015.
That year, Familia locked down 43 saves while pitching to a 1.85 ERA, 2.74 FIP, 2.55 xFIP, 1.000 WHIP and had 86 strikeouts.
In the postseason that year, Familia allowed just one earned run in 14.2 innings pitched, but will perhaps be remembered for allowing a key home run to Alex Gordon of the Royals in Game 1 of the World Series.
In 2016, Familia returned with a 2.55 ERA, saved 51 games which set a club record and led the league and appeared in the All-Star Game representing New York.
However, again, Familia allowed a key home run in that year’s Wild Card game to Conor Gillaspie of the San Francisco Giants which propelled them to a win over the Mets.
The right-hander was traded for a pair of middling prospects at the 2018 trade deadline, but was brought back by New York on a three-year pact in the 2018-19 offseason.
With two years left on his deal, the Mets are surely hoping Familia can turn it around in setup capacity for Edwin Diaz, who also had a brutal season.
Honorable mention: Addison Reed (2.09 ERA and 21 saves in 142 innings for the Mets from 2015-17), Francisco Rodriguez (2.20 ERA in 2010 with 83 saves total as a Met), Bobby Parnell (2.16 ERA, 22 saves in 2013).
***
Agree? Disagree? Let us know in the comments, and be sure to keep it locked on MetsMerized all winter as we will be doing All-Decade Teams for every decade the Mets have been in existance. Stay tuned!
