In recent days the biggest news coming out of the Mets organization has been the agreed buyout of left fielder, Jason Bay. I am amazed that not only did the Mets do this earlier than I expected ( I said that it would occur during spring training) but the fact that with the exception of the deferment of Bay’s 2013 salary, Bay will get every nickel due to him – no pennies on the dollar buyout thank you ( Damn I wish I was represented by Scott Boras).
So this got me to thinking ” Who are the worst Mets players by position that became Mets by either free agency or via trade ?”
The only rule that I used during my selection is that players from the Mets teams from the ’60′s would be omitted because the Mets had such god awful players at the time, and it would pollute this list.
Here is my list. some will agree, other will not. If you are in the camp that disagrees I invite you to give your list in the comment section below.
Manager: Jeff Torborg – Torborg came to the Mets with great fanfare in the early ’90′s. He was previously a winning manager for the White Sox, but he was not the right man to pilot a Mets roster that was fraught with conflict.
Catcher: Brian Schneider - Schneider was obtained along with outfielder, Ryan Church from the Nationals for outfielder Lastings Millidge.Schneider was seen as a defensive upgrade ( as well as a cheaper alternative) over the previous backstop, Paul LoDuca, but Brian didn’t acquit himself either offensively or defensively.
First Base : Mo Vaughn – Only the Mets would trade for a injured player after seeing him hit for 10 minutes in a batting cage. Vaughn played one and a half seasons for the Mets before retiring due to a bad back.
Second Base : Roberto Alomar – Alomar came to the Mets with great expectations but once he donned a Mets uniform his hitting and fielding skills eroded considerably.
Short Stop: Mike Bordick – The one strength that the Mets have maintained in the last 40 odd years is they have had great defensive shortstops. Bordick had a good pedigree with the Orioles, but it was astonishing when the Mets traded Melvin Mora for him to replace the injured Rey Ordonez in ’00, Bordick was a total bust.
Third Base: Jim Fregosi – We traded Nolan Ryan for him so you draw your own conclusions !
Centerfield: Juan Samuel. Samuel -known as a second baseman was acquired by the Mets for fan favorites, Lenny Dykstra and Roger McDowell. The Mets figured with Samuel’s speed and power he would be a natural for center field . HE WASN’T !
Left Field: Jason Bay. You should know why unless you have been living under a rock for the past 3 years.
Right Field: Ryan Church. Church was the other player in the Lastings Millidge trade. Church was expected to give the Mets line up much needed power and bring good offense to the outfield – neither came to pass.
Starting Pitcher: Mickey Lolich. Lolich was the main piece that was obtained in the deal that sent Rusty Staub to the Detroit Tigers in 1976. He at one time was the ace of the Tigers staff. But when he came to the Mets he went 8-13 with an E.R.A of 3.22 before retiring to open a doughnut shop. Honorable mention : Oliver Perez !
Closer: Francisco Rodriguez. Whenever Frankie came into a game – no lead was safe. He was signed to a bloated contract, and the only opponent that he had ease in punching out was his “father in law”
So there you have it – do you agree/disagree ? please let your voice be heard in the comment section.
And with that said…. HERE COMES THE INFAMY !!!!
Mets alumni celebrating a birthday today includes:
Mets reliever from ’05-’06, Roberto Hernandez is 48 (1964).
Spot starter/middle reliever from ’93-’95, Dave Telgheder is 46 (1966).
One of the better Met’s utility men of the last 10 years, Damion Easley is 43 (1969).
Spot starter/middle reliever from ’02-’03, Mike Bacsik is 35 (1977).
The Texas Rangers signed Doc Medich of the New York Mets as a free agent on November 11, 1977.Medich only appeared in one game in his Mets career. His record as a Met was 0-1 with an E.R.A of 3.86.
The New York Mets traded reserve outfielder, Terry Blocker to the Atlanta Braves for middle reliever, Kevin Brown on November 11, 1987.
The New York Mets traded reliever, Mel Rojas to the Los Angeles Dodgers for outfielder, Bobby Bonilla on November 11, 1998. Most Mets fans still wonder why the Mets brought Bobby Bo back for a second tour of duty.
Mo Vaughn wants to do dinner theater !
92 comments
Stickguy
11/11/2012-9:33am at 9:33 am (UTC -4)
ll worthwhile selections. I would of course put Ollie in front of Lolich. Just because.
What about Vince Coleman? Don’t we have to find a place for him somewhere?
Gavin
11/11/2012-11:33pm at 11:33 pm (UTC -4)
Luis Ayala
Agee Fan
11/12/2012-3:49pm at 3:49 pm (UTC -4)
Any list of free agent busts have to include Vince Coleman, George Foster, and Bobby Bonilla!!! They all came with much loftier expectations than Bay.
HotRod1962
11/27/2012-3:28pm at 3:28 pm (UTC -4)
Coleman & Bonilla created HAVOC in their time here. Not to mention Daryl Boston, implicated in the infamous Mets Rape Case. Poor Ryan Church always busted it, but was actually the first of the major concussion cases in MLB. He was a pretty nice player at first, but the concuss took that all away.
Plus, at 3B, no one comes CLOSE to the biggest a-hole in franchise history, Richie Hebner—just the worst human being on this team, ever.
Willis
11/11/2012-10:10am at 10:10 am (UTC -4)
Art Howe
darknova306
11/11/2012-10:30am at 10:30 am (UTC -4)
Jerry Manuel and that stupid grin on his face.
Stick
11/11/2012-12:03pm at 12:03 pm (UTC -4)
FIRE JERRY!
sorry, conditioned reflex.
robert difazio
11/12/2012-12:13pm at 12:13 pm (UTC -4)
right on
srt
11/11/2012-12:42pm at 12:42 pm (UTC -4)
‘The only rule that I used during my selection is that players from the Mets teams from the ’60′s would be omitted because the Mets had such god awful players at the time, and it would pollute this list.’
LOL, those loveable losers.
I mostly agree with this list, although I too would put Ollie first as SP. The only worth we got from Ollie was before he signed that 3/36 contract.
KRod for sure, especially as we came close to having to give him a 17.5 MIL vesting option. What was Omar thinking?
Jen Arnold
11/11/2012-3:08pm at 3:08 pm (UTC -4)
I liked Ryan Church.
Ken
11/12/2012-10:22am at 10:22 am (UTC -4)
And they got rid of Milledge for Church, so even if Church wasn’t any good, it wasn’t a bad trade because they got rid of an even worse player.
TX
11/11/2012-4:07pm at 4:07 pm (UTC -4)
Juan Samuel. Oh did I hate that move. I still remember his first AB. Deep fly ball. Warning track power…
Vince Colman.
Ollie P.
Based on contract, I’d say Francisco was worse that Krod. Benitez was worse than Krod as well.
Adam from Chicago
11/11/2012-5:58pm at 5:58 pm (UTC -4)
How is K-Rod on this list over Mel Rojas?????
Church would ahve been ok if he didn’t get hurt.
Will DeBoer
11/11/2012-6:00pm at 6:00 pm (UTC -4)
Nice idea for a piece but you were too late! I did something like this on Rising Apple three and a half months ago:
http://risingapple.com/2012/07/30/mets-all-time-busts-welcome-to-the-club-jason-bay/
Rustyjr
11/11/2012-6:05pm at 6:05 pm (UTC -4)
Sorry Wil I didn’t see it but it’s still a subjective list
Will DeBoer
11/12/2012-1:07am at 1:07 am (UTC -4)
No worries man we all have our opinions on the subject; I’m sure if the MetsBlog folks did the same thing they’d come up with something entirely different.
MarkB
11/11/2012-6:02pm at 6:02 pm (UTC -4)
Kaz Matsui was a far worse shortstop acquisition than Bordick.
Rustyjr
11/11/2012-6:06pm at 6:06 pm (UTC -4)
Like I said shortstop is one of the few positions that the Mets have had as a strength for the past 40 odd years – Bordick was the first to cone to mind – forgot Matsui played SS – cest la vie
Stick
11/11/2012-6:09pm at 6:09 pm (UTC -4)
forgot about old Kaz. The double benefit of moving Reyes to 2B for a year also. Good times.
Trs86
11/11/2012-6:07pm at 6:07 pm (UTC -4)
Nice job Rusty and welcome to all the Metsblog readers.
mike
11/11/2012-6:11pm at 6:11 pm (UTC -4)
How about Bobby Bonilla? Either time
Rustyjr
11/11/2012-6:13pm at 6:13 pm (UTC -4)
He’s a honorable mention lol between him & Bay Bay wins because Bobby Bo still produced more than Bay
mike
11/11/2012-6:18pm at 6:18 pm (UTC -4)
The one thing that could make Bonilla worse was his off the field antics. Bay was terrible but at least he was never a problem off the field.
BEAR
11/11/2012-6:16pm at 6:16 pm (UTC -4)
So……did Armando Benetiz pay someone off not to be mentioned?
Rustyjr
11/11/2012-6:24pm at 6:24 pm (UTC -4)
I was going to put more than one closer on the list but was pressed for time – besides Armando only folded when it mattered the most – K-Rod folded anytime
Stick
11/11/2012-7:25pm at 7:25 pm (UTC -4)
Benitez had some incredible years. Of course, a few notable meltdowns, but you always remember those more.
If you could could guarantee me a closer that could replicate his #s I would be ecstatic.
kingman 26
11/12/2012-12:52pm at 12:52 pm (UTC -4)
Crazy to even consider Benitez.
He certainly had some high-profile meltdowns, but was often outstanding.
BEAR
11/11/2012-6:18pm at 6:18 pm (UTC -4)
Sorry, Benitez
USMF
11/11/2012-6:21pm at 6:21 pm (UTC -4)
Braden Looper is far worse than K-Rod.
Shane Spencer, Roger Cedeño and Jeromy Burnitz are worse than Church…Church’s problem was he got hurt..the others couldn’t play
Bret Saberhagen is by far the worst for me.
Trs86
11/11/2012-6:32pm at 6:32 pm (UTC -4)
Burnitz, yeah got a point with him.
BEAR
11/11/2012-6:31pm at 6:31 pm (UTC -4)
I know its a draft choice of the Mets, but he irritated me…Aaron Hielman.
Gary Beresid
11/11/2012-6:40pm at 6:40 pm (UTC -4)
Carlos Baerga!!
HotRod1962
11/27/2012-3:34pm at 3:34 pm (UTC -4)
Baerga would have been the hands-down winner had it not been for Alomar!
Carlos did invent the now-solidified tradition of: Put on a Mets jersey; lose your skills overnight.
Why
11/11/2012-6:45pm at 6:45 pm (UTC -4)
Right field – Ellis Valentine for Jeff Reardon. Easily one of the worst.
Centerfield: Angel Pagan deal looking pretty bad right now
How did they get Baerga?
Rustyjr
11/11/2012-6:51pm at 6:51 pm (UTC -4)
Mets traded Kent for him
Gary Beresid
11/11/2012-6:53pm at 6:53 pm (UTC -4)
They traded Kent and Vizcanio for Baerga..
Stick
11/11/2012-7:27pm at 7:27 pm (UTC -4)
pagan, not really an issue to me. No, the deal did not look good after last season, but they were all 1 and done guys.
On paper, at the time, the trade looked fair and covered a need.
and Pagan quite likely would not have had the same output if still on the mets. No guarantee there.
HotRod1962
11/27/2012-3:39pm at 3:39 pm (UTC -4)
With the same circumstances, I’d still make the Valentine-for-Reardon trade. Ellis was a wonderful player, part of a very hot outfield with Hawk Dawson & Cormartie. He wasn’t used right, plateaued & that was that. No one at the time had ANY idea of what Reardon would turn into. That’s 20-20 hindsight.
howiek
11/11/2012-7:03pm at 7:03 pm (UTC -4)
Ryan Church? If the Mets would have dealt with his concussion like they should have it would have been a different story.
Graham
11/11/2012-7:45pm at 7:45 pm (UTC -4)
Church and Schneider? They were decent journeymen for a bust prospect; no harm, no foul.
Seth
11/11/2012-7:56pm at 7:56 pm (UTC -4)
The problem with putting K-Rod on this list is that compared to the bullpens that succeeded him, he seems like Mariano Rivera.
P. Buckley
11/11/2012-8:37pm at 8:37 pm (UTC -4)
Manager–George Bamberger
HotRod1962
11/27/2012-3:40pm at 3:40 pm (UTC -4)
Honorable mention.
Mr North Jersey
11/27/2012-3:50pm at 3:50 pm (UTC -4)
I just want to take a moment to say hello and welcome to all the new names around here of late. I want to add HotRod that every time I see your name I am reminded of the great WWE wrestler Rowdy Roddy Piper and his trademark Hot Rod shirt.
HotRod1962
11/27/2012-4:12pm at 4:12 pm (UTC -4)
Thanks, but sorry, NJ…
There is only ONE HotRod: Hot Rod Kanehl, Casey’s favorite. #1 in your error sheets; #1 in our hearts!
Damion
11/11/2012-8:56pm at 8:56 pm (UTC -4)
I understand a lot goes into these posts and the Met’s have a tradition of terrible trades and signings but how can one not mention Bobby Bonilla, Vince Coleman, Luis Castillo and Ollie Perez in this list? and Fransisco over Mel Rojas and Armando Benitez?
TRS86
11/11/2012-9:25pm at 9:25 pm (UTC -4)
Damion, Thanks for reading. I believe this was an instinct list off the top of his head designed more to get the readers to suggest their own rather to suggest his list is great and superior.
Old School Mets Fan
11/11/2012-8:56pm at 8:56 pm (UTC -4)
George Foster is owed a dishonorable mention. Victor Zambrano for Scott Kazmir not great. Richie Hebner at Third Base.
HotRod1962
11/27/2012-3:55pm at 3:55 pm (UTC -4)
Not fair on ol’ poor George. Not his fault. Cashen was desperate for legitimacy, early on. Geo. had just lost his skills, is all—this was the Reds pawning him off on someone just in time.
But Geo. was still part of one of my all-time Met Moments: Sitting upper deck behind home plate in early ’86. Geo. hits a grand slam vs. LA. RP Tom Niedenfeuer clearly had smoke coming out of his ears on the mound. The entire park knew what was coming. After the next pitch hit Ray Knight squarely between the 2′s on his back; the bat flew down, the helmet flew down, Knight landed more punches than Niedenfeuer could count, and off we went: the dugouts & bullpens emptied, and we were treated to one of the premier brawls of all of 1986.
In all of my then-thirty years of attending games, I’d never seen a grand slam or a brawl live. That night, we were treated to both on 2 consecutive pitches! Great fun at the ball park!
Chris B.
11/11/2012-9:25pm at 9:25 pm (UTC -4)
Cannot forget Bret Saberhagen. Injury plagued bust on the Worst Team Money Could Buy.
Kaz Matsui without a doubt over Bordick at SS.
CJ
11/11/2012-9:26pm at 9:26 pm (UTC -4)
Victor Zambrano, absolutely the worst. And I agree Schiender and Church arent that bad. Also, people forget Benetiz was good but had horrible loses, but so did Wagner and Franco and Looper and every other closer the Mets have ever had. They are all the reason I hate all closers.
Chris
11/11/2012-9:42pm at 9:42 pm (UTC -4)
Definitely Kaz Matsui at SS, I remember I had very high hopes for him after his first AB.
Braden Looper over K-Rod as well. And also I feel Ollie is the worst SP, but maybe that’s because I’m a younger fan.
jonathan
11/11/2012-9:59pm at 9:59 pm (UTC -4)
I don’t see how both Brian Schneider and Ryan Church can be considered the worst trades at their respective positions when all the Mets gave up was Lastings Millege. It’s not like he’s had an impressive career. If nothing else, we traded junk for junk.
TQ
11/11/2012-10:00pm at 10:00 pm (UTC -4)
Jeremy Burnitz and Victor Zambrano
bt
11/11/2012-10:01pm at 10:01 pm (UTC -4)
Church should not be on this list. George Foster probably should.
Burrito
11/11/2012-10:17pm at 10:17 pm (UTC -4)
Fregosi’s predecessor was Joy Foy, who was supposed to solve the 3rd base problem. He cost the Mets Amos Otis and a pitcher.
Although players from the ’60′s are not on this list, I have to bring up Don “Babe” Bosch who was supposed to solve the CF problem in 1966. He cost the Mets a decent pitcher in Dennis Ribant but over two years and 90 some games his career Mets batting average was .157. at least the Mets got Don Cardwell in the same deal and he would be useful later on in 1969.
Bluesjunky
11/11/2012-10:26pm at 10:26 pm (UTC -4)
How about Saberhagen?
barry
11/12/2012-10:24pm at 10:24 pm (UTC -4)
Saberhagen had one of the best statistical years in Mets history in 1994, before the strike ended that season. There is no way he belongs on this list; as a person he was a bum, but not as a pitcher.
Chris
11/11/2012-11:05pm at 11:05 pm (UTC -4)
You make some great points with that list. I could add some others.
Enzo
11/11/2012-11:48pm at 11:48 pm (UTC -4)
The list not complete with Bobby Bonilla.
jimmy d
11/12/2012-12:11am at 12:11 am (UTC -4)
how bout rich rodriguez and braden looper? lol
jimmy d
11/12/2012-12:12am at 12:12 am (UTC -4)
or kevin appier and shawn estes
steve eppy
11/12/2012-12:13am at 12:13 am (UTC -4)
Armando Benitez & Doug Sisk come to mind as relievers & Kenny Rogers as a starter. Also, I don’t think Willie Randolph had much on the ball either. And going WAY back, didn’t we choose catcher Steve Chilcott instead of Reggie Jackson in one of the drafts? And while we’re at it, although he has a passion for the game, Fred Wilpon’s love for the Dodgers clouds his ties to the Mets. Now, unfortunately I think he’s stuck on a 100 mil budget & I think a team needs another 30-40 mil to compete. Joan Payson, where are you when we need you?
Topcat959
11/12/2012-12:27am at 12:27 am (UTC -4)
What about Amos Otis trade was that for joe foy
Keith W
11/12/2012-12:49am at 12:49 am (UTC -4)
What about everyone the Mets received from the Seaver trade?
Also, K-Rod was what everyone thought he’d be. He was a closer that gave everyone agita, but he did close out games well. Benitez couldn’t handle the pressure when it mattered most.
Church was never supposed to be that great power hitter. I didn’t like getting Church, but he wasn’t a total bust. What about Steve Henderson (see Seaver deal), Daryl Boston, and Richard Hidalgo? Daryl Boston?!?! Really?! You missed him?!
Schneider was someone I liked the Mets acquiring, but he did fail as a Met. But was he really worse than Mackey Sasser?
For Manager, I agree that Torborg was terrible, but he was dealt with a bad situation. I agree with someone else’s comment above about Jerry Manuel. ABSOLUTELY AWFUL!!!!!!!
metstastic
11/12/2012-12:51am at 12:51 am (UTC -4)
Starter – tie between Ollie and VictorZ
SS/2B – Kaz
Reliever – who can forget Anthony Young and his 27 consecutive losses!
RF – Burnitz
LF – Bay
CF – Carl Everette
Manager – Howe
2B – Alomar and Kaz
1B – Baerga
C – Macky “Can’t throw to pitcher” Sasser
Pelicanman
11/12/2012-2:57am at 2:57 am (UTC -4)
You nailed the right side of the infield with Big Mo and Alomar, but Schneider and Church certainly weren’t that offensive, Lolitch with a 3.22 ERA would be a $15-million pitcher these days, Bordick was nothing special but not an all-time worst, and George Foster definitely belongs somewhere on that list. If there’s no room for him, then Vince Coleman should at least get an Honorable Mention for being both a bust on the field and a major cause of turbulence around the team.
TMO
11/12/2012-4:23am at 4:23 am (UTC -4)
Worst FA Signings (w/cumulative rWAR)
C) Paul LoDuca: 2.2 rWAR over 2 seasons
1B) Mo Vaughn: -1.5! (2 seasons)
2B) Luis Castillo: 2.5 (4 seasons)
3B) Bobby Bonilla: 7.4 (5 seasons)
SS) Kaz Matsui: 0.2 (3 seasons)
LF) Jason Bay: 1.1 (3 seasons)
CF) Vince Coleman: 1.7 (3 seasons)
RF) Roger Cedeno: 0.4 (3 seasons)
SP) Ollie Perez: 0.4 (5 seasons)
RP) Francisco Rodriguez: 2.5 (3 seasons)
mauryfeldman
11/12/2012-10:31am at 10:31 am (UTC -4)
1) Mickey Lolich with a 3.23 ERA was the *worst*? My how we forget the likes of Pete Harnisch and Ollie Perez. Or Kevin Appier, who you seem to have completely forgotten.
2) The Mo Vaughn trade saved the team money. The reason? Kevin Appier’s contract was worse, in part because Vaughn completely fell apart, and we were able to get insurance. Appier continued to pitch terribly for the Angels, and they had to pay him to play elsewhere for the final year of it.
3) How is Vince Coleman isn’t on the list? Roger Cedeno, also? Ryan Church was poor, but he wasn’t exactly a big time FA.
Stickguy
11/12/2012-10:56am at 10:56 am (UTC -4)
I originally thought Appier too, until I looked him up to refresh my memory.
might have been overpaid (as are most FAs), but he really was not that bad.
206 innings, 1.18 whip, 116 OPS+, 3.57 ERA, even above .500 record.
he was better than Pelf ever was, that is for sure! And right now, if the Mets could get that out of a SP brought in they would be overjoyed.
he actually did OK for the angels the next year. After that he fell completely apart though, so good thing the Mets moved him when they did, even if it did lead to the Mo era.
bob
11/12/2012-11:44am at 11:44 am (UTC -4)
Frank Fransisco is worse than Frankie. No doubt in my mind.
srt
11/13/2012-8:40am at 8:40 am (UTC -4)
Stat wise, I thought the same thing.
But when you compare the two contracts, KRod tipped the scales for me. Not his fault – Omar put it out there and all he did was sign on the dotted line. But thinking how close we came to giving him a 17.5 MIL vesting option – especially when he’s not the same closer he was with the Angels…..All I can say is ‘whew’, dodged that one.
TRS86
11/13/2012-10:46am at 10:46 am (UTC -4)
I think people get that option year confused. The reason it was 17.5M was to make up for the lesser amounts in years previous. Basically it was to make it into a backloaded contract which at the time would have been fine if… the Mets had won.
srt
11/13/2012-11:12am at 11:12 am (UTC -4)
I agree with the point of if the Mets won, no one would even be mentioning it.
But even with the back loaded vesting option, the contract was still a bit of money. Especially since KRod brought his own baggage as well, breaking his finger in that fight after the game and getting arrested to boot.
TRS86
11/13/2012-11:36am at 11:36 am (UTC -4)
But my point was the reason the option year was so much is because of how the contract was structured.
3 years/$37M (2009-11), plus 2012 option
signed by NY Mets as a free agent 12/9/08
$2M signing bonus
09:$8.5M, 10:$11.5M, 11:$11.5M, 12:$17.5M option ($3.5M buyout)
Basically the Mets offered 3/36 counting buyout or 4/48 if the option was picked up. That was the only way they were getting him.
Dan A
11/12/2012-11:59am at 11:59 am (UTC -4)
Worst relief move, Mets traded a young Jason Isringhausen for a washed up Billy Taylor.
TX
11/12/2012-12:10pm at 12:10 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah, that one was bad. So was Bannister for Ambiorix Burgos. Was not a fan of that one.
TRS86
11/13/2012-10:43am at 10:43 am (UTC -4)
Actually I loved the deal at the time and turns out they were both stinkers so nothing lost. Bannister had almost 0 upside and at the time in the Mets system #5/6 starters were a penny a dozen. Power arms though? They were completely absent, it was a good risk that as usual didn’t pan out. Didn’t ever occur that he would go homicidal though.
TX
11/13/2012-10:50am at 10:50 am (UTC -4)
I didn’t like it as Bannister was an actual SP, not just a RP. The team wasn’t loaded with SP at the time, if I recall. And yes, he had a power arm, but just getting one of those to have a “power arm” wasn’t all that smart of a plan.
But you are right, didn’t see the homicidal card being played. heh.
TRS86
11/13/2012-10:52am at 10:52 am (UTC -4)
I seem to recall the Mets having about 9 SP options at the time and about 4 of them Bannister was competing with so I didn’t see it as a loss at all.
TRS86
11/13/2012-10:54am at 10:54 am (UTC -4)
Also, if Burgos had worked out then we don’t need Krod…
Stickguy
11/13/2012-12:07pm at 12:07 pm (UTC -4)
yeah, that was another one that made sense at the time. Maybe a bit of a roll of the dice (steady production for more upside potential?).
similar to the pagan trade, it did not work out as expected, but end result, no real impact.
barry
11/12/2012-10:45pm at 10:45 pm (UTC -4)
Taylor, even though he was acquired in 1999 from Oakland as a set up man for Benitez is an excellent choice. When Benitez is your closer, you should always have a good “insurance policy”, but Taylor was about as worthwhile as owning Enron stock in the end.
JVeny
11/12/2012-12:12pm at 12:12 pm (UTC -4)
Kaz Matsui; Guillermo Mota; Josh Thole; Luis Castillo; Shawn Green and of course Victor Zambrano
barry
11/12/2012-10:22pm at 10:22 pm (UTC -4)
Looked at the list quickly and I strongly disagree with two of your picks: SS & RF.
Tony Fernandez easily is the worst shortstop the Mets traded for who was good with most other teams. Ironically, he was traded for Roberto Alomar in a mega deal between San Diego and Toronto, and for this team they are the DP combo. (No problem with your choice of Alomar at 2B; he was a dog from day one as a Met)
Ellis Valentine was awful as a Met, and part of one of the worst (and often forgotten) deals in Mets history, coming to the Mets from Montreal for Jeff Reardon; in the top 10 all time in career saves, while Valentine was washed up by the time he came to the Mets.
Rustyjr
11/13/2012-5:41am at 5:41 am (UTC -4)
You’re right about Fernandez Barry – mental block with him lol – outfield is subjective since there has been many bad acquisitions
barry
11/12/2012-10:33pm at 10:33 pm (UTC -4)
Have no qualms with the rest of this list, but remember Junior Ortiz? He came to the Mets as a highly hyped catcher, and did nothing. As Gary Cohen would say, it was “Stunning” to see Schneider, thought of as a top defensive catcher, field his position so poorly during his time as a Met.
barry
11/12/2012-10:42pm at 10:42 pm (UTC -4)
One more. You could make a case for Randy Jones as the worst SP acquisition. He had one awful season as a Met, years removed from when he won the Cy Young Award with the Padres.
DeeDubb
11/12/2012-10:58pm at 10:58 pm (UTC -4)
Great read and some bad memories to boot. My main issue is with Ryan Church getting the nod over Bobby Bonilla. At the time, his contract was the highest ever in baseball (I believe) and the expectation level was so much more than Church could even approach. Also, don’t agree with K-Rod. His contract was actually not that bad and neither was his performance. If it weren’t for the incident with his father-in-law, his tenure wouldn’t have the bad taste that it does. Besides, dealing with Frank Frank this year makes him look that much better.
Rustyjr
11/13/2012-5:43am at 5:43 am (UTC -4)
Bobby Bo still was productive though – yes his personality & behavior was abysmal – but offensively he was far from a bust
TomG
11/16/2012-1:29pm at 1:29 pm (UTC -4)
Bordick wasn’t good, and Kaz is at the top of the list. Tony Fernandez has to be on the list somewhere. Actually, just go one year earlier and the entire 92 team has a case. Saberhagan, Coleman, Torborg, Willie Randolph coming off of a great year in Milwakee, etc.
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