Bad Met Trades: Rusty Staub

Are the Mets famous for trading unproven young talent for fading superstars? Or does management order the General Manager give up a star player just because he has hit his prime and wants to unload a big contract and build for the future? See how some teams and players have…


Bobby Valentine and Dave Kingman

Bad Trades: Dave Kingman

Are the Mets famous for trading unproven young talent for fading superstars? Or does management order the General Manager give up a star player just because he has hit his prime and wants to unload a big contract and build for the future? See how some teams and players have…


Philadelphia Phillies Juan Samuel and New York Mets' outfielder Lenny Dykstra. (AP)

Bad Trades: Lenny Dykstra

Are the Mets famous for trading unproven young talent for fading superstars? Or does management order the General Manager give up a star player just because he has hit his prime and wants to unload a big contract and build for the future? See how some teams and players have…


Joe Foy and Amos Otis

Bad Trades: Amos Otis

Joe Foy for Amos Otis December 3, 1969 Joe Foy to the Mets for outfielder Amos Otis and pitcher Bob Johnson. Foy didn’t solve the Mets’ third base problems, while Otis spent 14 years in Kansas City, winning three Gold Gloves, leading the American League in stolen bases in 1971…


Ellis Valentine and Jeff Reardon

Bad Trades: Jeff Reardon

Ellis Valentine for Jeff Reardon May 29, 1981 The Montreal Expos traded outfielder Ellis Valentine to the New York Mets for relief pitcher Jeff Reardon, outfielder Dan Norman. Valentine will play just 159 games for the Mets, while Reardon will blossom into one of baseball’s best relievers. Reardon reached double figures in saves…


Mo Vaughn and Kevin Appier

Bad Trades: Kevin Appier

Are the Mets famous for trading unproven young talent for fading superstars? Or does management order the General Manager give up a star player just because he has hit his prime and wants to unload a big contract and build for the future? See how some teams and players have…


Victor Zambrano and Scott Kazmir

Bad Trades: Scott Kazmir

Are the Mets famous for trading unproven young talent for fading superstars? Or does management order the General Manager give up a star player just because he has hit his prime and wants to unload a big contract and build for the future? See how some teams and players have…


Braden Looper

Looper Sucks!

In January 2004, Braden Looper signed with the New York Mets as a free agent and had his best season to date going 2-5 with 29 saves and a 2.70 ERA. However, Looper had many crucial blown saves during the 2005 season, including blown saves on Opening Day, in a…


Bad Free Agent Signings: Pedro Astacio

Before signing Pedro Martínez in 2005, the Mets signed another Dominican pitcher named Pedro with a bum arm on Dec. 16, 2001. Pedro Astacio was famous for his ability to surrender the long ball. He started out strong for the Mets and did not get a deserved All-Star nod in…


Mets Coach Bobby Valentine, left, and General Manager Steve Philips, right, introduce "stolen base king" Rickey Henderson, at a news conference given by the Mets at Shea Stadium in New York, Monday, Dec. 21, 1998. The Mets signed Henderson for $2.3 million for one year with an option for a second. (AP Photo/Ed Bailey)

Bad Free Agent Signings: Rickey Henderson

In December 1998, Rickey Henderson joined his sixth club, the New York Mets, as a free agent. The following year was filled with ups and downs for the future Hall of Famer. He exceeded all expectations — batting .315, getting on base at a .423 clip, and stealing 37 bases…