New York Mets: Top Ten most impactful trades in past twenty years
Jul 11, 2015; New York City, NY, USA; New York Mets manager
Terry Collins(10) shakes hands with relief pitcher
Jeurys Familia(27) after defeating the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citi Field. The Mets defeated the Diamondbacks 4 – 2. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
- December 1, 1998: The Los Angeles Dodgers in a three-team deal with the NY Mets and Baltimore Orioles receive Todd Hundley from the NY Mets, who receive Pitcher Armando Benitez from Baltimore and OF Roger Cedeno from L.A. C Charles Johnson went from L.A. to Baltimore.
I didn’t like Benitez as a player. Most of my memories of him are negative, including blowing Game 1 of the World Series against the Yankees in 2000. The reason this is high on the list is because of the great impact he had (albeit negative) on the NY Mets for much of his tenure. He did have success saving over 100 games for the Mets, which are overshadowed by his poor character and performance under pressure. Meanwhile Cedeno lead the NL in steals (66) in 1999 to be part of a Mets team that won the wildcard.
Todd Hundley was a very productive homegrown catcher for the NY Mets in the mid 90’s. He was selected to two All-Star teams in the 1996 and 1997 seasons. In 1996, he set the single season record for home runs by a catcher with 41. He was, as the expression goes, in the wrong place at the wrong time. After suffering an elbow injury that nearly ended his career, the Mets acquired another All-Star catcher in Mike Piazza, from the Florida Marlins. The Mets tried to make the two players co exist by switching Hundley’s position to left field. But it never panned out, and he was never the same player.
Next: No.4