Fansided

11 players you totally forgot played for the Mets

By Ryan Morik

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 08: Rick Ankiel #16 of the New York Mets bats against the Miami Marlins at Citi Field on June 8, 2013 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Andy Marlin/AM Photography/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 08: Rick Ankiel #16 of the New York Mets bats against the Miami Marlins at Citi Field on June 8, 2013 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Andy Marlin/AM Photography/Getty Images) /
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3 Apr 2000: Derek Bell #16 of the New York Mets greets Manager Bobby Valentine during the game against the San Diego Padres at Shea Stadium in Flushing, New York. The Mets defeated the Padres 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Al Bello /Allsport
3 Apr 2000: Derek Bell #16 of the New York Mets greets Manager Bobby Valentine during the game against the San Diego Padres at Shea Stadium in Flushing, New York. The Mets defeated the Padres 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Al Bello /Allsport /

Derek Bell

After spending the previous five seasons with the Houston Astros, the Mets traded for Mike Hampton to bolster up their rotation after a trip to the National League Championship Series.

The Astros forced the Mets to take Derek Bell, too.

Out of Bell’s five seasons in Houston, he racked up an OPS of over .800 just twice. Bell slashed .236/.306/.350 in 1999. His .656 OPS was the worst of his career.

So on to New York he went. And he actually wasn’t terrible.

Bell actually started the season off incredibly hot. After a 4-for-29 (.138) start in his first eight games, Bell became the hottest player in the league. In his next 18 games, he slashed .480/.529/.1.209.

He came back down to earth, but for a couple weeks, it looked like the Mets absolutely fleeced the Astros.

His 18 home runs in 2000 were the third-most of his career.

He also made his lone appearance on the mound that year. It wasn’t too great. He allowed five runs, four earned, on three hits while walking three in an inning of work.

The Mets made the World Series that year, but Bell had just one at bat that postseason — a flyout to centerfield in game one of the NLDS.

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