Fansided

Each MLB team’s best trade ever

By Joshua Sadlock

SEATTLE, WA - JUNE 19: Miguel Cabrera #24 of the Detroit Tigers takes a swing during an at-bat in a game against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field on June 19, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. The Mariners won the game 6-2. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - JUNE 19: Miguel Cabrera #24 of the Detroit Tigers takes a swing during an at-bat in a game against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field on June 19, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. The Mariners won the game 6-2. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – JULY 30: Mike Piazza during his number retirement ceremony before the start of a game between the Colorado Rockies and New York Mets at Citi Field on July 30, 2016 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – JULY 30: Mike Piazza during his number retirement ceremony before the start of a game between the Colorado Rockies and New York Mets at Citi Field on July 30, 2016 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

New York Mets: Mike Piazza from the Marlins, 1998

  • Mets get: Mike Piazza
  • Marlins get: Preston Wilson, Ed Yarnall, Geoff Goetz

For all the heartache and suffering the Mets have given their fans over the years, their front offices have always been able to make solid trades. Many of the most important players on the 1986 World Series team were acquired via trade — Keith Hernandez, Gary Carter, Sid Fernandez, Bob Ojeda. Donn Clendenon was a trade pickup who came up big in the 1969 World Series. More recently, Noah Syndergaard and Yoenis Cespedes are big names who came to the Mets in a trade.

The trade that still stands out, however, is the 1998 deal that brought Hall of Fame catcher Mike Piazza to the Mets from the Marlins. Piazza gave the Mets the superstar presence they needed to compete with the early 2000s Yankees in New York City. Although the Mets lost the one World Series they played in with Piazza behind the plate, there’s still no way they even get close without him.

Piazza would spend eight seasons with the Mets and be a part of some of the most iconic moments in Mets history. He batted .296/.373/.542 in New York with 220 home runs and 655 RBI. The only season he missed the All-Star Game during his time with the Mets was 2003, and he won five Silver Sluggers on his way to the all-time lead for home runs by a catcher. His defense was never great, but Piazza proved that a catcher could be the best offensive player on a championship-level team.

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