METS NEWS & TRANSACTIONS ARCHIVE

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Mets Trade Seo For Relievers

The Mets completed a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers to acquire relievers Duaner Sanchez and Steve Schmoll in exchange for starting pitcher Jae Seo and lefty reliever Tim Hamulack. The Mets also signed former All-Star second baseman Bret Boone to a minor-league contract. Sanchez pitched in 79 games for the Dodgers in 2005, going 4-7 with a 3.73 ERA, walking 36 and striking out 71 in 82 innings. He throws a fastball that reaches about 95 mph on the radar gun, and he also displays a curveball, slider and changeup. Sanchez becomes the Mets' primary setup man to new closer Billy Wagner. The 25-year-old Schmoll, signed by Los Angeles in May 2003, was 2-2 with a 5.01 ERA and three saves for the Dodgers and 0-3 with a 4.78 ERA in 22 games for Triple-A Las Vegas in 2005. Seo, 28, went 8-2 with a 2.59 ERA for the Mets last season, starting 14 games. Tim Hamulack, 29, appeared in six games for the Mets in 2005, allowing seven hits and six earned runs in 2 1/3 innings. The 36-year-old Boone is a three-time All-Star who fell out of favor in Seattle and was put on waivers last July. He played 14 games for the Twins before being released in August. Overall, he batted .221 with seven home runs and 37 RBIs in 2005

Mets Acquire Paul Lo Duca

Omar Minaya continued his active off-season by acquiring catcher Paul Lo Duca from the Florida Marlins in exchange for minor league pitcher Gaby Hernandez and another minor leaguer who has yet to be named. The 33 year-old Lo Duca has been an All-Star for the past three consecutive seasons where he spent time with both the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Marlins. Lo Duca, who hails from Brooklyn, has amassed an impressive resume in his seven-year career which includes a .285 lifetime batting average. In 2005, Lo Duca hit .283 with six homers and 57 RBI’s in his first full season with the Marlins.

Mets Sign Wagner

The New York Mets signed closer Billy Wagner to a four-year contract on Tuesday, November 29th. One day after introducing first baseman Carlos Delgado, New York general manager Omar Minaya continued his offseason acquisitions with the signing of Wagner, who was widely considered the best closer on the open market. Wagner, a lefty, has recorded a 34-32 record with 284 saves and an impressive 2.40 ERA since joining the big leagues in 1995. Last year, he posted a 4-3 mark with 38 saves and a miniscule 1.51 ERA in 75 games with the Philadelphia Phillies. Wagner, 34, started his career with the Houston Astros before being traded to the Phillies prior to the 2004 season. In two years in Philadelphia he posted a total of 59 saves and helped the club come within one game of a wild card berth this past year.

Mets Trade For Delgado

Carlos Delgado was traded to the New York Mets by the Florida Marlins on Thursday, November 24th for first baseman Mike Jacobs, minor leaguer pitcher Yusmeiro Petit and minor league infielder Grant Psomas. Delgado hit .301 with 33 homers and 115 RBIs in his lone season with the Marlins, reaching 30 homers for the ninth consecutive year. The 33-year-old first baseman, who spent his first 12 major league seasons with Toronto, has a .284 career average with 369 homers and 1,173 RBIs. The two-time all-star will slide into a New York lineup that also includes center fielder Carlos Beltran, left fielder Cliff Floyd and third baseman David Wright. Delgado's .393 career on-base percentage should help a team that finished tied for 12th in the NL in that category last season at .322.

The 25-year-old Jacobs hit .310 with 11 home runs and 23 RBIs in only 30 games for the Mets this year. He finished eighth among NL rookies in homers and became the first player in major league history to hit four homers within four days of his major league debut. Petit, a 21-year-old right-hander, went a combined 9-6 with a 3.60 ERA and 144 strikeouts in 24 starts last season between triple-A Norfolk and double-A Binghamton. Psomas, 23, played 99 games with two class-A teams, hitting a combined .301 with 20 homers and 69 RBIs.

Mets Trade Cameron

The New York Mets acquired outfielder/first baseman Xavier Nady from the San Diego Padres in exchange for outfielder Mike Cameron on November, 18th. Nady, 27, hit .261 with 40 runs scored, 15 doubles, two triples, a career-high 13 home runs and 43 RBI with 22 walks and 67 strikeouts in 124 games to help the Padres capture the National League West in 2005. Xavier has the versatility to play first base, third base or the outfield. In 2005, Nady played 44 games at first base, three at third base, 26 in leftfield, 30 in centerfield and 13 in right field. For his career, Nady has a .263 (204-775) batting average with 36 doubles, three triples, 25 home runs, 91 RBI with 51 walks and 154 strikeouts in 269 career major league games.

Cameron, 32, hit .273 (84-308) with 23 doubles, two triples, 12 home runs and 39 RBI in 76 games with New York in 2005 before he had his season ended on August 11th in an outfield collision with Carlos Beltran at San Diego. Cameron has compiled a .249 batting average with 690 runs scored, 238 doubles, 39 triples, 173 home runs and 625 RBI throughout his career with the White Sox, Reds, Mariners and Mets.

Mets 2005 Postseason Awards

Mike Jacobs of the New York Mets has been presented the George M. Trautman Award honoring the Player of the Year in each of the 16 Minor League Division affiliates. Jacobs was honored for his outstanding play while with the Binghamton Mets, a Double- A affiliate from the Eastern Division. Jacobs batted .321 with 25 homeruns before being called up to the major league club in late August where he finished the last two months of the year by hitting eleven homeruns and 23 RBI’s.

Mets Sign Free-Agent Graves

On June 7th, the New York Mets signed free-agent relief pitcher Danny Graves to a one-year contract. Despite the turmoil that has surrounded Graves’ season thus far, he will provide the Mets with necessary bullpen depth and the experience of a former closer. During his career as the Reds’ closer, Graves logged 30 or more saves in 4 seasons. Just last year Graves accumulated 41 saves, tying him for ninth in the Major Leagues.

Mets Fill Hole in Pitching Rotation

The New York Mets filled a hole in their rotation on March 20th acquiring left-hander Kazuhisa Ishii from the Los Angeles Dodgers for catcher Jason Phillips. The Mets traded for Ishii to fill the void created when they lost Steve Trachsel to a back injury. Trachsel, who made 33 starts for New York last season, had surgery Saturday to repair a herniated disc and will miss at least three to six months. Ishii will step into the No. 5 spot in the rotation behind Pedro Martinez, Tom Glavine, Kris Benson and Victor Zambrano. Ishii went 13-8 with a 4.71 ERA in 31 starts last season for the Dodgers. Often erratic, he walked 98 batters in 172 innings. He is 36-25 with a 4.30 ERA in three seasons with the Dodgers since coming over from Japan.

Mets Get Mientkiewicz

The Mets acquired former Gold Glove first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz from the Boston Red Sox for minor league first baseman Ian Bladergroen on Wednesday, January 26th. The 30-year-old Mientkiewicz won the 2001 AL Gold Glove with Minnesota and caught the final out of Boston's World Series sweep of St. Louis last October, the first Series title for the Red Sox since 1918. Mientkiewicz came up to the major leagues with Minnesota in 1998 and was dealt to the Red Sox last July 31st. A career .272 hitter, he slumped to a combined .238 with six homers and 35 RBIs last year for the Twins and Red Sox. Mientkiewicz’s slick fielding will help the Mets’ young infield, which includes third baseman David Wright, shortstop Jose Reyes and second baseman Kaz Matsui. Bladergroen, 21, hit .342 with 13 homers and 74 RBIs in 269 at-bats last year for the Capital City Bombers of the Class A South Atlantic League. He tore cartilage and damaged ligaments in his left wrist on July 1, had surgery and missed the rest of the season.

Carlos Beltran Signs with Mets

The New York Mets won the Carlos Beltran sweepstakes this week and signed the coveted star outfielder to a seven-year contract on Tuesday, January 11th. Beltran began last season with the Kansas City Royals and was traded to Houston in June. He finished the season with a .267 average with 38 home runs, 104 runs batted in and 42 stolen bases in 45 attempts. The 27-year-old switch-hitting center fielder helped the Astros reach the National League Championship Series, where they lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games. He hit .435 with eight home runs and 14 RBI during the playoffs. Beltran is the second major addition to the Mets in as many months, following the signing of three-time Cy Young Award winner Pedro Martinez on December 16th. Beltran has a .284 batting average with 146 home runs, 569 RBI and 192 stolen bases during seven major-league seasons. He's driven in at least 100 runs five times, including four consecutive seasons, but had never hit 30 home runs in a season prior to last year.

Mets Sign Pedro

After helping the Boston Red Sox win their first title in 86 years, Pedro Martinez will try to lead the New York Mets to their first championship since 1986. Martinez was introduced at Shea Stadium on December 16th, the day after he passed his physical and the Mets finalized his four-year contract. Martinez, who turned 33 on Oct. 25th, won two of his three Cy Young awards and posted a 117-37 record in seven years with the Red Sox. He brings a career 2.71 ERA, lowest among active major-league pitchers, and was 16-9 last season with a career high 3.90 ERA. Martinez is also the active pitcher with the highest lifetime winning percentage (.705) and the pitcher who has the lowest batting average against (.209) than any other hurler in the game today. Pedro joins Tom Glavine, Kris Benson, Steve Traschel and Victor Zambrano to form one of the best rotations in baseball.

Mets Swap Stanton for Heredia

Mike Stanton and Felix Heredia traded boroughs on December 3rd, crossing town as the Mets and Yankees completed a swap of left-handed relievers. In 2004, Heredia was 1-1 with a 6.28 ERA in 47 regular-season appearances for the Yankees. Heredia has pitched for the Marlins, Cubs and Reds over the course of his nine-year career, logging a 26-15 record with six saves and a 4.50 ERA in 349 2/3 NL innings. Stanton, 37, signed with the Mets before the 2003 season when the Yankees allowed him to leave via free agency. The last two seasons were frustrating for Stanton, who has also pitched with Atlanta, Boston and Texas over a 15-year Major League career. Stanton was healthy most of this past year, but his performance suffered due to overuse. The veteran appeared in 83 games—good for seventh in the Majors and breaking a club record of 80 set by Turk Wendell in 1999—en route to a 2-6 record and a 3.16 ERA.

The deal is the 12th all-time between the Mets and the Yankees, and the first since July 16, 2003, when the Mets sent reliever Armando Benitez across town for reliever Jason Anderson and two minor leaguers.

Randolph Hired as Manager

New York Yankees bench coach Willie Randolph was hired as the New York Mets' manager on Wednesday, November 3rd, replacing former manager Art Howe. The Mets had two straight losing seasons under Howe, including a 71-91 record in the 2004 season that placed the Mets fourth in the National League East. The Mets haven't made the playoffs since falling to the Yankees in the 2000 World Series.

Randolph, 50, was a six-time All-Star during 18 MLB seasons hitting .276 with 54 home runs, 687 RBIs and 1,239 runs scored. He played 1,688 games at second base for the Yankees and was named a team co-captain in 1986. He won World Series titles with the Yankees in 1977 and 1978. Randolph also played for Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, Oakland and Milwaukee before ending his career with the Mets in 1992. Randolph was the Yankees' assistant general manager in 1993 and spent the next 10 seasons as their third-base coach before becoming bench coach in 2004.

Minaya Named New GM

The New York Mets named New York native Omar Minaya their new General Manager on Thursday, September 30th. Minaya, who grew up a few blocks from Shea Stadium, spent the last three seasons as the General Manager of the Montreal Expos. He is quite familiar with the New York Mets organization, as he had previously been a senior assistant general manager prior to joining the Expos’ organization. In an effort to lure him back, the team offered Minaya a five-year contract and the title of General Manager and Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations. Minaya is known for his ability as a talent evaluator. Minaya replaces Jim Duquette, who was reassigned to the position of Senior Vice President of Baseball Operations. Minaya will be responsible for finding a new head coach to replace Art Howe and rebuilding the team, who finished their season with a losing record (71-91) for the third consecutive season.

Mets Make Moves Before Trade Deadline

As the trading deadline neared on July 31st, the New York Mets opted to make a serious run at the NL East Divisional race by acquiring two right-handed pitchers, Kris Benson and Victor Zambrano. The new hurlers will complete the starting staff, joining Al Leiter, Tom Glavine and Steve Trachsel in a move that should add more consistency throughout the rotation.

In exchange for Benson and minor league infielder Jeff Keppinger from the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Mets traded infielder Ty Wigginton, minor league pitcher Matt Peterson and infielder Jose Bautista, who was acquired earlier in the day from the Kansas City Royals for catcher Justin Huber. The 29-year-old Benson posted a record of 8-8 with a 4.22 ERA in 20 starts for the Pirates this season, but came on strong in his previous five outings before the trade, going 3-1 with a 2.73 ERA.

The Mets acquired Zambrano and fellow right-hander Bartolome Fortunato from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in exchange for highly touted left-handed pitching prospect Scott Kazmir and minor league right-hander Joselo Diaz. Zambrano, a 28-year-old flamethrower who has struggled with his control, has amassed a 9-7 record with a 4.43 ERA this season. In 128 innings, he has walked 96 batters to go along with his 109 strikeouts.

In another pre-deadline move, the Mets traded veteran right-hander Scott Erickson to the Texas Rangers for a player to be named later. Erickson posted a record of 0-1 with a 7.88 ERA in his two starts for the Mets before being designated for assignment on July 28th.

Mets Obtain Hidalgo for Weathers, Griffiths

On Thursday, June 17th, the New York Mets acquired outfielder Richard Hidalgo from the Houston Astros in exchange for pitchers David Weathers and Jeremy Griffiths. While Hidalgo is only hitting .256 this season, he has been a power threat in past seasons, exploding in 2000 with 44 home runs for the Astros. Hidalgo is expected to play right field for the Mets and will combine with Mike Piazza and Cliff Floyd to give the Mets a powerful middle of the order.

The 34-year-old Weathers was signed as an unrestricted free agent prior to the 2002 season and at times was a very effective setup man for New York. He joins a Houston bullpen that is already one of the most formidable in the National League. Griffiths appeared in nine games for the Mets last season and had a record of 5-2 this year at Triple-A Norfolk.

Piazza Breaks Home Run Record

On Wednesday, May 5th, Mike Piazza broke Carlton Fisk's major league record for home runs as a catcher, hitting No. 352 in the first inning of an 8-2 victory over the San Francisco Giants. Piazza drove a 3-1 pitch from Jerome Williams off the bottom of the scoreboard in right-centerfield to give the New York Mets a 1-0 lead. Piazza, a 10-time all-star, has hit 262 home runs overall throughout his career—ranking him 58th on the career home run list. He tied Fisk's mark of 351 on April 27 at Dodger Stadium with a solo shot off Hideo Nomo. Piazza, 35, hit his first 177 homers with Los Angeles. He broke in with the Dodgers in 1992 and was chosen NL rookie of the year the following season.

Cedeno Traded

On Saturday, April 3rd, the New York Mets traded outfielder Roger Cedeño to the St. Louis Cardinals for catcher Chris Widger and infielder Wilson Delgado. Cedeño, a 29-year-old switch hitter, is a .275 career hitter with 37 home runs, 243 RBI and 208 stolen bases. A two-time member of the Mets, Cedeño also played for Los Angeles, Houston and Detroit. During his first stint with the Mets, Cedeno stole 66 bases and batted .313 in 1999. After joining the Tigers as a free agent in 2001, he batted .293 with 55 steals. Despite his early success, Cedeno struggled during the last two seasons with the Mets—batting .263 with 39 stolen bases.

Widger, 32, has spent seven years in the majors with four teams, batting .242 with 50 homers and 202 RBI. Delgado, a career .238 hitter, and Widger will begin the season playing with Triple-A Norfolk and will add important depth for the Mets should any of their players suffer an injury.

Mets Make More Moves

On Saturday, March 27th, the New York Mets traded outfielder Timo Perez to the Chicago White Sox for minor league reliever Matt Ginter. The trade of Perez cleared some space in a crowded Mets outfield that will now consist of every day players Cliff Floyd and Mike Cameron, while Shane Spencer, Karim Garcia and Roger Cedeno will share time in right field. Ginter, 26, was 3-5 with 14 saves and a 3.03 ERA for the White Sox Triple-A affiliate in 2003.

In other transaction news, the Mets acquired veteran infielder Ricky Gutierrez from the Indians for a player to be named later. Gutierrez, 33, will be a backup in the infield for Jose Reyes at second, Kazuo Matsui at shortstop and Ty Wigginton at third. Gutierrez is having a strong spring, batting .375 in 13 games, while demonstrating that he has recovered from serious neck surgery that he had in October 2002.

Mets Sign Ricky Bottalico and James Baldwin to a Minor League Contract

On February 11th, the New York Mets signed pitchers Ricky Bottalico and James Baldwin to minor league contracts. Bottalico, who appeared in only two games last year with the Arizona Diamondbacks, posted a 1-0 record with a 5.40 ERA and will receive an invitation to spring training in hopes of solidifying the Mets bullpen. The 32-year-old Baldwin, who appeared in 10 games last season, finished the year with a record of 0-1 and a 5.40 ERA.

Erickson Signed to Minor-League Contract

On February 4, 2004, the New York Mets announced the signing of pitcher Scott Erickson to a minor-league contract. Erickson, who is coming off of a five-year, $32 million extension with the Baltimore Orioles, has a career record of 140-128 with a 4.51 ERA. The 36-year-old starter, who was a former World Series winner with the Twins in 1991, missed the entire 2001 season after Tommy John surgery and was also sidelined last year with a shoulder injury. He hopes to compete for a spot in the Mets rotation in the upcoming season.

Mets Sign Free Agent Shane Spencer

On Thursday, January 29th, the New York Mets signed free agent outfielder Shane Spencer to a minor league contract. Spencer, a former member of the New York Yankees, hit .251 last season with 12 home runs and 49 RBI while splitting time between the Cleveland Indians and Texas Rangers. In spring training, Spencer will compete for playing time in right field.

Zeile Returns to NY

Todd Zeile officially returned to the Big Apple on Wednesday, January 28, when the Mets announced they had signed the free-agent infielder to a one-year deal. The well-traveled Zeile, who played for the Mets in 2000 and 2001, split last season between the Yankees and Expos, hitting .227 with 11 homers and 42 RBIs in 299 at-bats over 100 games. Zeile, 38, began last year with the Yankees but was released on August 17th after the club traded for third baseman Aaron Boone. He signed with Montreal three days later and finished the season strong, hitting five homers and driving in 19 runs in 34 games. Zeile is the only player in Major League history to hit a homer for 11 different teams. He was the Mets starting first baseman in 2000 and 2001, but it is likely that his role for the Mets will be as a bench player.

Mets Sign Free Agent Karim Garcia

On Tuesday, January 20th, the New York Mets signed free agent right fielder Karim Garcia to a one-year, $800,000 contract. Last season, the left-handed Garcia hit .262 with 11 home runs and 35 RBI over the course of 244 at-bats with the Cleveland Indians and New York Yankees. With the Mets, Garcia will split time in right field with Timo Perez, and Roger Cedeno.

In other transaction news, the Mets traded left-handed reliever Jaime Cerda to the Kansas City Royals for minor league right-hander Shawn Sedlacek. The 27-year-old Sedlacek was named Kansas City’s 2000 Minor League Pitcher of the Year by Baseball America.

Looper Signs With The Mets

On Tuesday, January 6th, Braden Looper agreed to a two-year deal to become the Mets' closer. The Mets, who finished last in the NL East the past two seasons, had been looking for a closer since trading Armando Benitez to the New York Yankees late last season. Looper, 29, had 28 saves for the World Series champion Florida Marlins last season. He was 6-4 with a 3.68 ERA, but he struggled in the second half and the team did not offer him a contract for 2004.

Looper did, however, get some big outs in Game Four of the World Series, as he escaped a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the 11th inning against the Yankees to earn the win. Looper spent five seasons in Florida, earning all 46 of his career saves with the Marlins. He began his major league career with St. Louis in 1998 and has appeared in at least 71 games each of the last five seasons.

Former Met Tug McGraw Dies

Former Mets reliever Tug McGraw died of complications from brain cancer on Monday, January 5th at the age of 59. McGraw had been fighting the cancer for almost a year, nearly succumbing to the disease last spring. He made a few appearances during the season, first at Veterans Stadium in May and then again at Shea Stadium in August to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the club's 1973 National League pennant.

He was 47-55 with 86 saves during his nine seasons in New York but the year that cemented his legacy was 1973 when his rally cry of "You Gotta Believe" ignited the team and brought them to within one game of a World Series crown. His best season with the Mets, however, actually came in 1972 when he won eight games, saved 27 others and posted a 1.70 ERA.

McGraw seemed to be at his best in the postseason, winning titles with the Mets in '69 and later with Philadelphia in 1980. He was 4-5 with six saves, posting a 2.24 ERA in 26 playoff and World Series games.

Cameron Signed to the Mets

On Thursday, December 18th, the New York Mets signed Gold-Glove center fielder Mike Cameron to a three-year contract. Cameron, 31, hit .253 with 18 home runs, 31 doubles, 76 RBI and 17 stolen bases for the Seattle Mariners last season while making just one error in the field. For his stellar defensive play, Cameron was awarded his second Gold Glove. Cameron has twice hit 25 home runs in a year, and has power-he hit four homers in four consecutive at-bats at Chicago in May 2002-but it was his superior defense that the Mets coveted the most.

Mets Sign "Little Matsui"

On Sunday, December 7th, the New York Mets signed star Japanese shortstop Kazuo Matsui to a three-year contract. The 28-year-old Matsui is a switch-hitter who led the Pacific League in stolen bases twice and was the league's Most Valuable Player in 1998. Nicknamed "Little Matsui," the shortstop is a seven-time All-Star and a three-time Gold Glove winner in Japan, batting .305 with 33 home runs and 84 RBI last season for the Seibu Lions. He will be joining a Mets team that finished the season with a record of 66-95, last in the NL East for the second consecutive season. New York plans to move Jose Reyes, coming off a spectacular rookie season, from shortstop to second base to make way for Matsui.

Duquette Hired as General Manager

Jim Duquette was hired as general manager of the New York Mets on Tuesday, October 28, four months after taking the job on an interim basis. Duquette ran the team's baseball operations after Steve Phillips was fired in June. Duquette established himself as an asset to the team this summer by trimming payroll and getting the Mets under the luxury tax threshold. He traded away high-priced and unproductive veterans such as Roberto Alomar and Armando Benitez, restocking the New York farm system in the process. Duquette also proved to be decisive, showing he wasn't afraid to promote prospects and sacrifice what would have been a mediocre present for what he hopes will be a bright future.

Mets Continue Busy Offseason!

On Sunday, December 15th, the New York Mets took their first step to shedding payroll by trading shortstop Rey Ordoñez to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in exchange for infielder Russ Johnson and minor league first baseman Josh Presley. The Mets hope to fill their hole at shortstop with 19-year-old super prospect Jose Reyes at some point this season. Reyes, who will be 20 on opening day, split time between Class A and Double-A last season. He hit .288 with eight homers, 26 doubles, 19 triples and 64 RBI. He also stole 74 bases. Only a day after trading away their shortstop, the Mets continued to make moves by signing free agent setup-man Mike Stanton to a three-year deal. Stanton, a left-handed force with the cross-town rival New York Yankees for six seasons, will help solidify the Mets' bullpen while bringing his championship experience to the clubhouse. Stanton helped the Yankees win three World Series titles and four American League pennants.

Mets Land Glavine!

On Monday, December 9th, the New York Mets made an announcement that changes the balance of power within the National League East division. It was the announcment of pitcher Tom Glavine's three-year, $35 million deal with the New York Mets. The deal includes an option for a fourth year that is based on his performance. The former Atlanta Brave and future Hall-of-Famer spent sixteen seasons in Atlanta, winning two Cy Young Awards and posting five 20-win seasons. Glavine was 18-11 with a 2.96 ERA in 2002 and is 242-143 with a 3.37 career ERA. With his addition to their rotation, the Mets will no longer have to face Glavine, who has a 16-7 lifetime record against them. Glavine will now lead a rotation that also includes Al Leiter, Pedro Astacio and Steve Trachsel, who signed a two-year $8 million deal on Saturday, December 7th, to remain a member of the Mets' pitching staff. His deal also includes an option for a third year, which is based on the number of innings pitched.

Mets Hire Bronx Bomber Legend as New Hitting Coach!

Former New York Yankee Chris Chambliss was hired as the New York Mets' new hitting coach on Thursday, June 13th. He replaces Dave Engle, who was released by the Mets on Monday after a one-year term with the club. A role in New York sporting life is nothing new for Chambliss, as he is best known for hitting a home run in the bottom of the ninth inning during Game Five of the 1976 AL Championship Series. This allowed the Yankees to win the game and clinch their 30th pennant. Chambliss is expected to use his hitting expertise to aid the slumping Mets, who are ranked 13th (.243) in batting average and 14th (264) in total runs scored in the National League. Although these numbers are low, they do not reflect the Mets players' abilities, for historically these players have hit extremely well. After leaving his position as the Yankees hitting coach in 2000, Chambliss is returning to New York after a two-year hiatus from baseball.

Mets Sign Estes!

On Sunday, February 10th, Shawn Estes and the New York Mets agreed on a one-year, $6.2 million contract. The Mets acquired Estes in December from the San Francisco Giants for outfielder Tsuyoshi Shinjo and infielder Desi Relaford. Last season the lefthander was 9-8 with a 4.02 ERA in 27 starts. Estes, 29, hopes to regain the All-Star status that he enjoyed in 1997 when he won 19 games for the San Francisco Giants. Estes has also shown to be a durable and reliable pitcher amassing an average of 29 starts over the past 5 seasons. Estes' presence among the pitching staff provides the Mets with one of the deepest rotations in the major leagues, making them a viable championship contender in 2002.

Mets Keep Moving!

In the biggest deal since 1994, the New York Mets took part in a three-team trade that also involved the Milwaukee Brewers and the Colorado Rockies in which they added the much-needed slugging outfielder for which it was looking. The trade netted them outfielder Jeromy Burnitz, who spent two seasons with the Mets in 1993 and 1994. Last season, Burnitz batted .251 with 34 home runs and 100 RBI with the Milwaukee. He has hit over 30 home runs for the past four seasons and will surely add more firepower to the Mets' revamped lineup. Along with Burnitz, the Mets received pitcher Jeff D'Amico, infielder Lou Collier and outfielder Mark Sweeney from the Brewers. D'Amico, 26, was 2-4 with a 6.08 ERA in 10 starts for Milwaukee last season. He missed four months because of an arm injury, however was one of the top NL pitchers in 2000, going 12-7 with a 2.66 ERA. The Mets also received two minor leaguers from the Rockies, as the Mets sent first baseman Todd Zeile and Benny Agbayani to Colorado. The Mets also sent pitcher Glendon Rusch and pinch-hitting extraordinaire Lenny Harris to the Milwaukee Brewers to complete their end of the deal. Rusch became expendable after the Mets signed righthander Pedro Astacio last week. Astacio, 32, is 103-96 with a 4.50 ERA lifetime with Los Angeles, Colorado and Houston. He is the Rockies' franchise leader with 53 wins. With all of their major offseason transactions apparently completed, the Mets certainly seem to be ready to challenge for the National League pennant again in 2002.

Mets are Burning Up the Hot Stove!

It seems the Robin Ventura-David Justice deal was merely the start of one of the busiest offseasons in New York Mets' history. The biggest surprise came when the Mets acquired future Hall of Fame second baseman Roberto Alomar from the Indians. The seven-player deal, which centered around Alomar, also included two minor-league prospects from Cleveland coming over to the Mets in exchange for outfielder Matt Lawton, minor-league outfielder Alex Escobar, reliever Jerrod Riggan, and two players to be named later. The deal changes the complexion of both the Mets' lineup and infield as they enter the 2002 season. However, the Mets were not finished revamping their team. They quickly signed former Met outfielder Roger Cedeño to a three-year deal. Cedeño, who set the Mets' stolen base record in 1998, will become the club's leadoff hitter and add speed to a lineup that sorely needs it. With the lineup beginning to take shape, the organization decided to address their pitching needs both through the free-agent market and trades. The Mets signed righthander David Weathers to a 3-year deal in hopes that he will shore up the bullpen, as he was a member of the New York Yankees championship team in 1996. Shortly after, the Mets traded away outfielder David Justice, whom they had acquired from the Yankees in exchange for Robin Ventura, to the Oakland Athletics for left-handed reliever Mark Guthrie and minor-league pitcher Tyler Yates. Understanding that pitching is the key to winning a championship, Mets' general manager Steve Phillips acquired lefty starter Shawn Estes from the San Francisco Giants in exchange for outfielder Tsuyoshi Shinjo and utility infielder Desi Relaford. Estes, 28, was an All-Star in 1997 when he won 19 games for San Francisco. With six starters in the rotation, many believed that the Mets would deal a pitcher for a big bat, but no one predicted what was next to come. On Thursday, December 27th, the Mets acquired first baseman Mo Vaughn from the Anaheim Angels in return for pitcher Kevin Appier. Vaughn, 34, was the 1995 AL MVP with the Boston Red Sox. He brings a .298 career batting average and 299 career home runs to the Mets' lineup. He will most likely offer some much-needed protection in the batting order behind Mike Piazza. With a strong lineup shaping up, and a pitching rotation that appears to be predominantly left-handed, there's no telling what the Mets will do next during this exciting offseason…stay tuned.

Mets-Yanks Trade in Rare Moment

September 17th, 1993 was the last time these two teams were able to work out a deal with which either could agree. On Friday, December 7th, the New York Mets and the New York Yankees made a major crosstown trade when third baseman Robin Ventura was sent to the Bronx in return for outfielder David Justice. Ventura batted .237 with 21 homers and 61 RBI for the Mets last season. His 15 career grand slams are the most of any active player and ninth all-time. Justice, whose teams have reached the past 10 postseasons, will provide the Mets with the left-handed power hitter they've been seeking to protect Mike Piazza. He has 294 career homers, including a career-high 41 in 2000. Justice struggled last season because of a recurring injury that sidelined him for nearly 50 games. As a result, he batted just .241 with 18 homers and 51 RBI. Both teams hope this deal will address some of their offseason needs. The last time the Mets and Yankees made a trade was when pitcher Frank Tanana was sent to the Yankees in exchange for minor league pitcher Kenny Greer.

Mets Wheelin’ & Dealin’ at Deadline

As the non-waiver trading deadline approached (July 31st), the New York Mets got to work beginning on Friday, July 27th. Looking to relieve themselves from salary obligations as well as acquire younger talent, the Mets traded relievers Turk Wendall and Dennis Cook to the Philadelphia Phillies for a pair of young left-handed pitchers.

Bruce Chen, a highly touted 24-year-old starter considered to have tremendous potential, was a member of the Atlanta Braves organization when he was traded to the Phillies for Andy Ashby. Chen started this season with the Phillies and went 4-5 with a 5.00 ERA in 16 starts. He is expected to report to Triple-A Norfolk for the Mets.

The Mets also received Adam Walker, 25, who had been at Double-A for the Phillies where he was 7-4 with a 1.94 ERA in 14 starts. Last year, he led Phillies minor leaguers with 15 wins, and pitched both a no-hitter and one-hitter this season.

The Mets were not finished making deals, as they traded All-Star pitcher Rick Reed on Monday, July 30th, to the Minnesota Twins for outfielder Matt Lawton. The Mets have been clear that they want to improve their offense, and Lawton certainly will contribute to achieving that goal. This season, Lawton was hitting .293 with 10 home runs and 51 RBI. Joining a team in desperate need of a leadoff hitter, Lawton also has a .396 on-base percentage with 19 stolen bases--better numbers than any Mets’ regular this season.

Mets Trade Backup Catchers with Phillies

On Monday, July 23rd, the New York Mets sent backup catcher Todd Pratt to the Philadelphia Phillies in return for backup catcher Gary Bennett. Pratt, 34, is best remembered for his series-clinching home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 1999 National League playoffs. Affectionately known as “Tank”, Pratt offered an enthusiastic clubhouse presence for the Mets while he served as Mike Piazza’s backup for five seasons. Gary Bennett, 29, comes to the Mets hitting .213 with one homer and six RBI in 75 at-bats. He hit .306 last year at Triple-A Scranton. The move gives the Mets more flexibility behind the plate, since they previously were carrying three catchers on the roster. Unlike Pratt, Bennett can be optioned to the Mets’ minor league affiliate.

Mets Sign First Round Pick

On 7/17/01 the Mets came to terms with their first-round draft pick, pitcher Aaron Heilman.

2000 Transactions

Mets Announce More Moves In the past, the New York Mets have looked to acquire talent from the Japanese League to help solidify their ball club. On Monday, December 18th, the Mets introduced their newest find to the public, Tsuyoshi Shinjo. Shinjo, a 28-year-old outfielder, was a four-time All-Star in Japan with a .249 career batting average, 145 home runs and 518 RBI in 1,061 games. He signed with the Mets to a one-year contract worth $700,000. Shinjo also was awarded seven Gold Glove Awards in nine seasons with the Hanshin Tigers. In a coaching move, the Mets announced Charlie Hough as their new pitching coach. With another coaching announcement, the Mets' minor league affiliate, the Brooklyn Cyclones, announced that former Met Howard Johnson would be their new hitting coach for their inaugural season. In his career, Johnson hit .251 with 221 home runs, 738 RBI, and 230 stolen bases in 1,444 games. Johnson had been working in the Mets Professional Scouting Department since October 10, 1997.
Mets Make Several Moves to Improve On Monday, December 11th, the Mets agreed to a four-year, $42 million deal with Kevin Appier. Appier, a 33-year-old right-hander, was a 15-game winner last season with the Oakland Athletics in which he posted a 15-11 record and a 4.52 ERA in 195 innings pitched. In his 12-year career, Appier has a 136-105 record with a 3.63 ERA. The Mets also added Steve Trachsel to the staff with a two-year $7 million deal. The 30-year-old Trachsel has posted a 68-84 record and a 4.42 ERA in his 8-year career. Appier and Trachsel are expected to fill the holes left in the starting rotation by Mike Hampton and Bobby Jones. Hampton, last year's NLCS MVP, signed with the Colorado Rockies last week. In a smaller deal, the Mets also traded Bubba Trammell to the San Diego Padres in return for Donne Wall, a right-handed reliever who posted a 5-2 record with a 3.35 ERA. The 33-year-old Wall will help solidify the Mets' bullpen as he has shown to be a reliable relief pitcher.
Reed Agrees to Three-year Deal with Mets On Wednesday, December 6th, the New York Mets and starter Rick Reed agreed on a three-year deal worth $21.75 million. Last season, the 36-year-old right-hander compiled a record of 11-5 with a 4.11 ERA after making 30 starts for the Mets. In completing this deal, the Mets look to solidify their starting rotation that still has two vacancies left by free-agent pitchers Mike Hampton and Bobby Jones. Reed brings both experience and consistency to the staff, not to mention a strong record when pitching against their division rival, the Atlanta Braves (3-1 in the last two years), whom the Mets will face 19 times in the 2001 season.
Mets Keep Bullpen Strength With Wendell and Franco One of the New York Mets greatest weapons during their National League Championship season was their bullpen. In the midst of an offseason where three of their five starting pitchers are free agents, the Mets made sure that their bullpen remained intact. In the final week of November, the New York Mets re-signed both their setup man, John Franco, and their middle relief workhorse, Turk Wendell. Franco agreed to a 3-year, $10.5 million deal on November 25th. The deal adds stability to the team both on the field and in the clubhouse, as Franco is one of the team's leaders. As for Wendell, known for appreciating odd numbers, he agreed on a 3-year deal that with bonuses would pay him $9,999,999.99. The right hander appeared in 77 games last season, pitching 82.2 innings. During that time, he compiled an 8-6 record with a 3.59 ERA. Franco's record this past season was 5-4 with 4 saves and a 3.40 ERA.
Mets Announce Return of Valentine and Phillips On Tuesday, October 31st, the New York Mets announced the signing of both Steve Phillips and Bobby Valentine. Valentine, the team's manager, is 379-301 during his four-plus seasons in New York, second to only Davey Johnson (595) in victories with the Mets. Valentine is 960-906 overall in the majors, having also managed the Texas Rangers. Valentine signed a three-year deal worth a guaranteed $7.95 million, with a team option for the fourth year. Steve Phillips, the Mets' General Manager, also received a three-year deal with a team option worth approximately $3 million. Since both Phillips' and Valentine's arrivals, the New York Mets have enjoyed steady improvement over the last four seasons, culminating in a World Series appearance this year. Now that the club has addressed the issue of management, it will now turn its attention to a busy offseason where nine Met players are eligible for free agency. To view results and recaps from the 2000 Playoffs and World Series, please visit our 2000 World Series Page.

Last Updated On: Tuesday, January 10, 2006



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