Remember 1969: Who Won? Deals thru history - 1984

 

Mets Trades through the years:  Who won?

November 1983 through October 1984

There were only 4 trades during this interval, one of whom Tom Brennan still scratches his head about.  To this day, he cannot figure out how Sid could have pitched so much better in New York than anywhere else.   (just kidding, Tom . . every once in a while we find a keeper) 

Notes:   Sid Fernandez was the star of the '83-'84 trade season.   Sid accumulated 27.6 of his 32.7 career WAR in his 10 years with the Mets, including a 16-6 record with a 3.52 ERA for the '86 Champs.  

They must have seen something with Bruce Berenyi at the time the trade with the Reds.  Jay Tibbs was a second round draft pick and Eddie Williams was the overall #4 pick just a year before the trade.    Unfortunately for all involved, none of the three went on to the promise of their high draft standing or trade potential. 

(1)  New York Mets traded Bob Bailor and Carlos Diaz to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Sid Fernandez and Ross Jones  (Dec 08, 1983)

(2)  New York Mets traded Tucker Ashford to the Kansas City Royals for Tom Edens  (Apr 01, 1984)

(3)  New York Mets traded Jay Tibbs, Eddie Williams and Matt Bullinger to the Cincinnati Reds for Bruce Berenyi  (Jun 15, 1984) 

(4)  New York Mets traded Gerald Young, Mitch Cook and Manny Lee to the Houston Astros for Ray Knight  (Aug 28, 1984)

Trivia:   Oddly, Sid Fernandez was not the only native Hawaiian in that deal.   Carlos Diaz was born (and unfortunately died way too early) in Hawaii.    

I had forgotten or didn't realize how young Fernandez was when he was spinning a couple hundred innings in 1986.   '86 was his 23 year old season.  He first pitched for the Mets in '84 at age 21.  

An interesting piece of trivia that might get you a couple bucks on a bet.   The players the Mets traded for Ray Knight actually combined for a higher career WAR than Knight accumulated.    And Mitch Cook never pitched higher than the AA level.    Cook was 16-4 with a 2.97 ERA in 184 innings striking out 178 for the Mets Class A squad in 1984 before the trade in late August.    Can you imagine any pitcher in Class A being allowed to throw 184 innings in the current times?   

Last piece of useless info for today:   

Knight was actually a Met for three days before the other three guys went to Houston.  The trade was announced as "obtained for players to be named later".   All three were officially traded on August 31.   I am guessing that was the end of the minor league seasons so they let them finish out the year with their clubs.   No one played again in '84.