New York Mets: Top Ten most impactful trades in past twenty years

Aug 8, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Houston Astros outfielder

(30) makes a catch against the wall against the Oakland Athletics in the eighth inning at O.co Coliseum. The Athletics defeated the Astros 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sport

2. February 2, 2008: The Minnesota Twins trade Pitcher Johan Santana to the New York Mets for Carlos Gomez, Philip Humber, Deolis Guerra, and Kevin Mulvey. The Mets and Santana then agreed to a six-year, $137.5 million contract. 

The Mets were coming off a season where they suffered one of the worst collapses by a MLB team in baseball history by losing the division on the last day of the season after having had a seven-game lead in mid September. It was time to make some moves

Santana, had an inaugural season that replicated his success from Minnesota. The two time CY Young award winner went 16-7, with his 2.53 ERA leading the the league. Optimism was abound that this was a stellar trade for the Mets. The Mets and their fans began to expect this type of performance every year.

With the exception of the following season (2009) when he was selected as an All-Star while finishing with a 13-9 record, the rest of his career would be marred by injuries. He missed the entire 2011 season recovering from shoulder surgery. On June 1, 2012 he pitched the first no hitter in Mets history against the St. Louis Cardinals. He was never able to rebound, and his contract was by the Mets for the 2013 season.

Giving up four prospects, and signing one of the most lucrative deals for a pitcher in MLB history has a major impact on a team’s current and future plans.

Next: No.1