Mets trades to remember (and forget)

The Mets made some productive deals during the last quarter century, but seem forever admonished for the trading blunders of earlier eras.

There was a feel-good transaction in 1972 when aging but still ultra iconic Willie Mays was obtained from the Giants for Charlie Williams. But the Mets already misfired before that time -- and it wasn't only on the trading front. In the 1966 major league draft, they selected catcher Steve Chilcott as the first overall pick. Chilcott never made it past Triple-A. The player the Mets could have picked first? Reggie Jackson.

The deals got worse before they got better, but the hiring of general manager Frank Cashen in 1980 ushered in a new era of deals that put the Mets in contention and produced a world championship in 1986.

RAW DEALS

Dec. 10, 1971: Nolan Ryan and three other players to the Angles for Jim Fregosi.

Perhaps the worst deal in major league history. The Mets gave up on the wild righthander, sending him as the principal player for a past-his-prime third baseman. Ryan won 29 games with the Mets in four seasons. After leaving, he won an additional 295 games, struck out another 5,221 batters and had seven no-hitters with three different teams on his way to the Hall of Fame. Until this deal, the most heat the Mets took was giving up future All-Star Amos Otis to Kansas City for Joe Foy after the 1969 season.

June 15, 1977: Pitcher Tom Seaver sent to Cincinnati.

A disenchanted Seaver became disenfranchised by chairman M. Donald Grant, who banished him for Pat Zachry, Doug Flynn, Steve Henderson and Dan Norman. Seaver continued building credentials in his Hall of Fame career, which included pitching a no-hitter for the Reds.

Seaver would briefly come back to the Mets in 1983 and say all was forgiven, but the trade remains a very infamous part of Mets' history.

Dec. 10, 1982: Pitcher Mike Scott to the Astros for outfielder Danny Heep.

Blame the Mets if you will, but no one saw this coming when they traded the mediocre starter, who was 14-27 in four seasons. Scott, perhaps through the art of scuffing the baseball, found stardom in Houston, where he became a three time All-Star. However, he was unable to inflict a mortal wound on the Mets in 1986 as they won Game 6 of the National League Championship Series with Scott waiting in the wings for a never-to -be Game 7.

GOOD DEALS

June 15, 1983: First baseman Keith Hernandez acquired from St. Louis for Neil Allen and Rick Ownbey.

No one saw this coming, especially Cashen, who gladly gave up Allen, his closer. Hernandez, one of the best defensive first baseman in history, also had the bat and the leadership the Mets needed.

Dec. 10. 1984: Catcher Gary Carter acquired from Montreal.

Another one Cashen said he never expected to materialize. Often referred to as the final piece needed to push the team to championship status. Carter produced with the bat, but Cashen said he was just as valuable working with the pitching staff.

For the cost of Hubie Brooks, Mike Fitzgerald, Herm Willingham and Floyd Youmans, the Mets received a future Hall of Famer who has become a beloved figure in Mets' history.

March 27, 1987: Pitcher David Cone acquired from Kansas City.

Not quite a blockbuster, but a great deal as Ed Hearn, Rick Anderson and Mauro Gozzo went to the Royals for Cone, who won 80 games in less than six seasons.

May 22, 1998: Catcher Mike Piazza acquired from Florida for Preston Wilson, Ed Yarnall and Geoff Goetz.

In eight seasons, Piazza hit 220 of his 427 career home runs -- most by a catcher -- and led the Mets to two postseason appearances, including the 2000 Subway Series against the Yankees. Great player with the Dodgers, but wants to wear a Mets cap when he is elected into the Hall of Fame.