MLB Trade Deadline: Top 25 midseason deals of all-time

3. Mets acquire Yoenis Cespedes, July 31, 2015

As the 2017 season has shown, life can be very difficult for New York Mets fans. However, in 2015, the Mets made several trades before the non-waiver deadline including a big move to acquire slugger Yoenis Cespedes from the Detroit Tigers.

Interestingly enough given his standing as one of the team’s most popular players today, Cespedes was a bit of a backup option for the Mets. Two days earlier, New York was close to acquiring Carlos Gomez from the Milwaukee Brewers before the trade fell apart. Gomez was eventually traded to the Houston Astros.

When the Mets acquired Cespedes, the club was 52-50 and three games back in the National League central standings. After the trade, New York won seven in a row. The club moved into a tie for first place Aug. 2, and took sole possession of the division lead the following day – and never relinquished it.

The NL East title was the first for the Mets since 2006, and the final 90-72 record marked the first winning season for the franchise in seven years.

Cespedes was a driving force in the club’s surge to the postseason. In 57 games, the slugger hit .287/.337/.604 with 17 home runs and 44 RBI. He launched two homers in the series victory over the Dodgers in the NLDS, and added four hits in a sweep of the Cubs in the NLCS, helping the Mets finish a remarkable run to the World Series.

Unfortunately for New York, Cespedes cooled off in the Fall Classic, going just 3-for-20 (all singles) at the plate against the Royals. The Mets lost in five games.