Steve Phillips and the art of the deal

A year ago, Mets GM Steve Phillips was vilified during the offseason for the move he didn't make - signing Alex Rodriguez. But when it comes to trades, such as yesterday's deal for Roberto Alomar, Phillips has a pretty decent track record.

THE GOOD

Dec. 11, 2001 - 2B Roberto Alomar, RHP Mike Bacsik and OF-1B Danny Peoples from the Indians for OF Matt Lawton, OF Alex Escobar, RHP Jerrod Riggan and two minor leaguers.

Comment: Tough not to like this one. Mets come out way ahead unless Escobar becomes another Ken Griffey Jr.

Dec. 7, 2001 - OF David Justice from Yankees for 3B Robin Ventura.

Comment: Justice may not stay long, but clearing out Ventura made the Alomar trade possible.

Dec. 23, 1999 - LHP Mike Hampton and OF Derek Bell from the Astros for OF Roger Cedeno, RHP Octavio Dotel and LHP Kyle Kessel.

Comment: Hampton served his purpose, helping lead the Mets to the 2000 World Series, but then jumped to the Rockies. Dotel is a loss, but Cedeno could he headed back to Flushing.

Feb. 6, 1998 - LHP Al Leiter and INF Ralph Milliard from the Marlins for LHP Jesus Sanchez, RHP A.J. Burnett and OF Robert Stratton.

Comment: Leiter has been the cornerstone of the rotation ever since, which was worth shipping away two talented though unproven arms.

May 22, 1998 - C Mike Piazza from the Florida Marlins for OF Preston Wilson, LHP Ed Yarnall and LHP Geoff Goetz.

Comment: Sure, Wilson is an exceptional talent, but four years later, he was essentially dealt straight up for the game's greatest hitting catcher.

Dec. 1, 1998 - RHP Armando Benitez from the Orioles, OF Roger Cedeno from the Dodgers in three-team trade. C Todd Hundley and RHP Arnold Gooch to Dodgers from Mets; C Charles Johnson from Dodgers to Orioles.

Comment: Benitez can be a headache at times, but Phillips snared a top-tier closer and Cedeno for a beat-up Hundley and a guy named Gooch. Well done.

THE BAD

July 23, 1999 - Acquired LHP Kenny Rogers from Athletics for OF Terrence Long and LHP Leonor Vasquez.

Comment: Ouch. Nice-guy Rogers took the fall for his bases-loaded walk in Game 6 of the 1999 NLCS while Long is making fans feel good in Oakland.

July 31, 1999 - Acquired RHP Billy Taylor from Athletics for RHPs Greg McMichael and Jason Isringhausen.

Comment: Another one he'd like to do over, and again involving the A's. Mets got a pair of ineffective, over-the-hill relievers, while Isringhausen found his niche as an up-and-coming closer.

THE SO-SO

July 29, 2001 - OF Matt Lawton from Twins for RHP Rick Reed.

Comment: It wasn't easy to part with Reed, and Lawton was a disappointment.

Much better deal now that Lawton was one of the chips used to get Alomar.

Aug. 8, 1997 - OF Brian McRae, RHP Mel Rojas and RHP Turk Wendell for OF

Lance Johnson, RHP Mark Clark and INF Manny Alexander.

Comment: Wendell stuck around the longest, McRae had limited value and Rojas was a total bust.