Remember 1969: Who Won? Deals of History - 1985

 

Mets Trades through the years:  Who won?

November 1984 through October 1985

Notes:   While the 1986 trades picked up the final pieces to the 1986 puzzle, there were some fine trades made up in the years leading up to '86.   

The first two trades that GM Frank Cashen pulled off in December were big wins, especially Gary Carter.   HoJo was always one of my favorites and while he didn't stand out until after the 1986 season, he had some terrific years from '87 to '92.    I remember never wanting anybody else at the plate in a tie ball game with a fastball pitcher on the mound.   I'll bet he could still turn on the heater.  

Carter, in many people's eyes, was the heart and soul of the 1986 Mets.   He certainly had a lot of supporting crew, but this was a huge get for the Mets.   Brooks was a fine player, but you have to give up SOMETHING to get a player like the Kid. 

The rest of the trades that year didn't amount to much, although Jose Oquendo went on to a decent career with St. Louis.  I guess Rafael Santana was a better option at the time. 

The whole list:

(1)  New York Mets traded Walt Terrell to the Detroit Tigers for Howard Johnson  (Dec 07, 1984)

 (2)  New York Mets traded Hubie Brooks, Mike Fitzgerald, Herm Winningham and Floyd Youmans to the Montreal Expos for Gary Carter  (Dec 10, 1984)

 (3)  New York Mets traded Tim Leary to the Kansas City Royals for Frank Wills  (Jan 18, 1985)

 (4)  New York Mets traded Ken Reed and Gene Autry to the Chicago White Sox for Randy Niemann  (Mar 30, 1985)

 (5)  New York Mets traded Rusty Tillman to the San Diego Padres for Rick Lancellotti  (Mar 31, 1985)

 (6)  New York Mets traded Jose Oquendo and Mark Jason Davis to the St. Louis Cardinals for Argenis Salazar and John Young  (Apr 02, 1985)

 (7)  New York Mets traded Dave Cochrane to the Chicago White Sox for Tom Paciorek  (Jul 16, 1985)

Trivia:   There is a unsubstantiated rumor in some circles that Rudolph was a minor-league throw in for trade 4.    

Paciorek was a good player in his time, but was a classic Mets pick up at the tail end of his career.  He only lasted one year and didn't stick around for the ring.