AKAK: "I'm a bit too lazy to look up who they traded to get those guys"
Unfortunately, I'm not. Lets check it out:
1. December 11, 2001: Cleveland Indians trade Roberto Alomar with Danny Peoples (minors) and Mike Bacsik to the New York Mets for Matt Lawton, Alex Escobar, Jerrod Riggan, and players to be named later (Earl Snyder and Billy Traber)
Alomar completely fell off the table for the Mets. He couldn't bat righthanded anymore, and hit .336 for the Indians in '01 feeding off fastballs that pitchers didn't want to throw to Thome, Lofton, JuanGone, and Ellis Burks. This trade ain't so bad in retrospect, but considering that Alomar was a New York flame-out, and I've always been a big fan of Lawton, I'd still say that the Mets got fleeced.
My Grade: C -.
2. July 30, 2004: Pittsburgh Pirates trade Kris Benson to the New York Mets for Ty Wiggington, RHP Matt Peterson (minors), and C Justin Huber (minors).
This deal aint so bad, but it didn't have to be made. Wiggington is a servicable Infielder with a decent bat who could've helped the Mets' putrid offense. Peterson was the Mets' 2nd best pitching prospect behind Scott Kasmir (though most scouts project him as a 4 or a 5), and Huber was their 2nd best position prospect (behind David Wright), though most scouts project him as a back-up catcher.
My main beef with this one is that the Mets could've signed Benson for nothing this offseason. Instead, they gave up a piece that they could've used (Wiggington), 2 of their top 5 prospects that could've been used in another deal, and severely had to overpay for Benson this offseason.
My Grade: D -.
3. July 30, 2004: Tampa trades RHP Victor Zambrano to the New York Mets for LHP Scott Kazmir (minors).
Kasmir looks to be a future star for the Rays: he was the Mets' best pitching prospect as a lefty who throws smoke. Bottom line: they gave up a lefty with star potential for an erratic righthander (with good stuff and no control) who shakes out to be their 4th or 5th Starter next season. A huge no-no for a rebuilding team.
My Grade: F ++.
How bout this deal ???(you might not've heard about this one):
4. July 31, 2002: San Diego Padres trade P Steve Reed with Jason Middlebrook to the New York Mets for Bobby Jones, Jason Bay (minors), and Josh Reynolds (minors).
That's right. This past season's Rookie of the Year (Jason Bay) was a Mets farmhand. They essentially dealt him for nothing (two journeyman relievers). You think the Mets' horrible O could've used Bay this past season??
My Grade: F +++