The New York Mets' All-Time Acquired Team

Here is the second team in my "All-Time Acquired Team" series.

This team has no homegrown Mets like Tom Seaver or David Wright on it, but it has the best players gotten via trade or signing.

You might find some old but forgotten faces on the roster.

It is a 25-man roster.

Stay tuned; I will have the "Atlanta Braves' All-Time Acquired Team" posted soon.

All stats you see on this list will be as a Met.

Let's get started.

Catcher: Mike Piazza

Seasons: 8

Games 972

Hits 1028

Runs 532

HR 220

RBI 655

.296

SLG% .573

OBP% .373

Is this really a surprise? This isn't just the Mets' all-acquired catcher; he is the Mets' all-time catcher.

As a Met he was a six-time All-Star, four-time Silver Slugger Award winner, and helped the Mets to a couple of playoff appearences.

He drove in 100 runs a couple of times, six times hit 20-plus HR, hit over .300 four times, and received an MVP vote three times.

He was definitely one of the more liked Mets throughout history.

A future Hall of Famer, Mike Piazza deserves this spot.

1B: Keith Hernandez

Seasons: 7

Games 880

Hits 939

Runs 455

HR 80

RBI 468

.297

SLG% .429

OBP% .387

Truly one of the most lovable Mets of all time, Keith Hernandez is the starting first baseman on this team.

He never was someone you could just write down that would give you 100 RBI and 30 HR like a prototypical first basemen. But the guy would save your team at least 35 ER through the course of the season.

With his slick fielding glove, he won six Gold Glove Awards with the Mets and helped the Mets win the 1986 World Series.

He was a three-time All-Star with the Mets.

Keith wasn't a pushover with the bat either. He hit over .300 four times, had over 30 doubles three times, 80-plus RBI four times, 170-plus hits four times, and had an OBP over .400 three times for the Mets.

His biggest contribution to the Mets had to have come as a leader. The Mets were in need of a voice back then, and Keith Hernandez gave them that voice.

2B: Felix Millan

Seasons: 5

Games 681

Hits 743

Runs 308

HR 8

RBI 182

.278

OBP% .326

SLG% .337

He had no power to speak of, but Felix "The Cat" Millan was a pretty nice player for the Mets.

In five seasons he would hit .280 or better three times, scored 80-plus runs two times, and had more than 30 doubles once with the Mets. He even had a few MVP votes in 1973.

Although the Mets lost, he helped them get to the 1973 World Series.

Very scrappy, he never struck out more than 28 times in a season while with the Mets.

Plus, he commited 10 or fewer errors with the Mets twice.

SS: Rafael Santana

Seasons: 4

Games 483

Hits 376

Runs 134

HR 8

RBI 113

.248

OBP% .296

SLG% .310

This is the weakest position on the team offensively; the best Mets shortstops were homegrown.

Santana couldn't do much with the bat. He never hit higher then .257 and never had more than five HR in a season.

He was pretty good with the glove though; he had three seasons of 350-plus assists and had a .971 FLD% with the Mets.

He helped the Mets get to the 1986 World Series.

3B: Howard Johnson

Seasons: 9

Games 1154

Hits 997

Runs 627

.251

OBP% .341

SLG% .459

Johnson was very versatile, but he played the majority of his career at third.

A terrific acquisition for the Mets, Howard would be a two-time All-Star for them.

He would lead the league in HR, RBI, and runs scored all one time each with the Mets. Plus, he helped the team make two playoff appearences.

He drove in 100 runs twice, five times hit 20-plus HR, six times stole 20-plus bases, scored 100-plus runs twice, and had 30-plus doubles three times.

He won two Silver Slugger Awards and had MVP votes three times.

He had all the tools.

OF: Carlos Beltran

Seasons: 5

Games 667

Hits 712

Runs 463

HR 126

RBI 463

.282

OBP% .368

SLG% .507

One of the very few five-tool center fielders in the game today makes the team. Look at the RBI and runs scored—strange or what?

With the Mets so far he has had three 100-plus RBI seasons, three 20-plus HR seasons, two 100-plus runs scored seasons, four 30-plus double seasons, and two 20-plus SB seasons.

He has helped the Mets get to one playoff appearence so far.

With Beltran's three Gold Glove awards, four All-Star selections, and two Silver Sluggers, the Mets have a bona fide superstar.

I believe he might be the most talented player on the entire Mets roster.

OF: Kevin McReynolds

Seasons: 5

Games 736

Hits 745

Runs 382

HR 118

RBI 435

.273

OBP% .331%

SLG% .463

I remember watching Kevin McReynolds growing. He was a heck of a grinder on the field. Not a superstar, but he got the job done.

A respectable power threat, he averaged 23 HR with the Mets every year.

He had 30-plus doubles three times, 20-plus HR four times, 90 RBI seasons two times, and even stole 20-plus bases once.

He finished in the top five in MVP voting once. He also helped the franchise get to the playoffs once.

He kind of got lost in the mix because he played with Met teams that had Dwight Gooden, Keith Hernandez, Gary Carter, and Howard Johnson on them.

Pretty lovable player.

OF: Dave Kingman

Seasons: 6

Games 664

Hits 509

Runs 302

HR 154

RBI 389

.219

OBP% .287

SLG% .453

If you had Dave Kingman on your team, you had him for one reason, and that was to hit home runs and drive in around 90 runs.

With his devastating swing, he hit 20-plus HR four times with the Mets and had 80-plus RBI three times.

He was a All-Star with the Mets once.

He led the league in HR once while with the Mets.

He could also play first base, but he mostly played the OF.

I guess you can say he help pave the way for some of the power hitters of today like Adam Dunn, Ryan Howard, Mark Reynolds, and others.

SP: David Cone

Seasons: 7

Wins 81

ERA 3.13

K's 1172

IP 1209

BB 431

WHIP 1.18

Power righty David Cone is a part of the staff—one of the more underrated pitchers through history.

He won two strikeout titles with the Mets, won 20 games once, and topped 200 innings four times.

He helped the Mets get to the playoffs in 1988.

He had memorable moments as a Met, like that 19 K game against the Phillies.

With the Mets he would have over 33 10-plus K games as a Met.

Certainly an ace.

SP: Ron Darling

Seasons: 9

Wins 90

ERA 3.50

K's 1148

IP 1620

BB 614

WHIP 1.32

A solid No. 2 or 3 on any staff, Darling was extremely consistent with the Mets.

Six times he had over 200 IP, had a ERA in the 4.00s only twice, was a 15-plus-game winner twice, lost more then 10 games once, three times had four or more CG, and had 184 K's once.

He was an All-Star once with the Mets and also won the Gold Glove Award.

He was very dominant in the 1986 playoffs, posting a 1.53 ERA; in 17 IP he had 12 K's.

Through his Met career he had seven 10-plus K games.

SP: Al Leiter

Seasons: 7

Wins 95

ERA 3.42

K's 1106

IP 1360

BB 546

WHIP 1.30

Every staff needs a solid lefty. Leiter's career might not be in broadcasting, but he was a good pitcher for the Mets.

He was with the Mets from ages 32-38, years where he should have been in a decline, but he was pretty good with a 3.43 ERA.

He pitched 200 innings three times, incredibly had a ERA in the 4.00s just once, was a 15-plus-game winner three times, topped 200 K's once, and helped the Mets to two playoff appearences.

He was an All-Star with the Mets and received Cy Young votes in 1998.

He never surrendered more hits than innings pitched as a Met.

He had eight 10-plus K games as Met.

Pretty solid No. 3 or 4.

SP: Sid Fernandez

Seasons: 10

Wins 98

ERA 3.14

K's 1449

IP 1584

BB 596

WHIP 1.09

A very lovable Met, Sid Fernandez has to be on the staff.

In 10 seasons the guy had a ERA of 3.14 along with a WHIP of 1.10.

He had three 200 IP seasons, five times had a ERA in the 2.00s, six 6 times K'd more then 180 batters, compiled 23 CG, and six times had a WHIP under 1.10.

A very hard pitcher to hit, he never surrendered more then 7.5 hits/9.

He was an All-Star twice and received Cy Young votes in 1986.

He helped the Mets make two playoff appearences.

He had 31 10-plus K games with the Mets.

SP. Johan Santana

Seasons: 1.5

Wins 29

ERA 2.78

K's 352

IP 404

BB 109

WHIP 1.17

The current Met ace makes the staff. The Mets haven't scored many runs for him, but just look at the ERA.

He has been everything the Mets could have wanted. They were right to shut him down this season.

He has been an All-Star with the Mets and placed third in Cy Young voting his one healthy season.

In his one healthy season he won 16 games, had a league-leading ERA of 2.53, notched over 200 K's, and led the league in IP.

He has had eight 10-plus K games as a Met.

The Bench

Constructing the bench, I took into consideration that Howard Johnson could play SS, so I didn't put another SS on the bench. I considered Robin Ventura instead of Ray Knight, but Knight brought home a championship and was a better clutch hitter.

1B: Carlos Delgado—three 20-plus HR seasons and two 100-plus RBI seasons with the Mets.

3B/1B: Ray Knight—In 1986 had a .298 BA and in 1986 World Series had a .391 BA.

C: Gary Carter—A four-time All-Star with the Mets, he had three 20-plus HR seasons with two 100-plus RBI seasons. He hit two HR in the seven-game 1986 World Series.

OF: Tommy Agee—He hit 20 HR with the Mets twice, hit .280-plus twice, stole 20-plus bases twice, and scored 100 runs once for the Mets.

The Bullpen

There are a total of seven relievers in the pen.

Seven might be all you need when you look at the guys that are there.

John Franco—The Mets' all-time leader in saves with 273. A fan favorite when he was playing. A very under the radar guy.

Billy Wagner—The definition of what a power lefty is, Wagner might not have been the most loved Met, but he was certainly one of the best Met relievers. He had three seasons of 30-plus saves for the Mets.

Francisco Rodriguez—In his first season with the Mets, he has over 30 saves on a bad team. The Mets don't win any games, so he really doesn't have a routine, thus the ERA is high for Franky (3.13). The meaning of a power righty is K-Rod.

Bobby Ojeda—We have to get Bobby on the staff somehow. Mostly known as a starter with the Mets, Ojeda did work out of the pen with New York, so I think you can pencil him in as the long man. A very loved Met.

Armando Benitez—He hold the Mets' single-season saves record with 43. I don't know what Met fans thought of this guy, but much like Wagner, he got it done (not as well though). He posted a ERA of 2.70 with the Mets through five seasons.

Jesse Orosco—You got to have Jesse Orosco in there. He had 91 saves for the Metropolitans and a shining 2.73 ERA for them in eight seasons. He was an All-Star a couple of times with the Mets.

Turk Wendell—Maybe the least known guy on the staff, in five seasons he had a good 3.34 ERA for the Mets. A big part of the '99 and '00 Mets, Wendell was pretty overlooked because he was in the same pen as John Franco and Armando Benitez.

Order

How I would construct the batting order in a game:

1. Felix Millan (Don't want to put too much weakness on the bottom)
2. Keith Hernandez
3. Carlos Beltran
4. Mike Piazza
5. Howard Johnson
6. Kevin McReynolds
7. Dave Kingman (35 HR batting seventh)
8. David Cone
9. Rafael Santana

My rotation setup:

1. Johan Santana
2. David Cone
3. Al Leiter (only because I don't want righties going back-to-back)
4. Ron Darling
5. Sid Fernandez

My bullpen setup:

CL: John Franco
Setup: Billy Wagner
Setup: Francisco Rodriguez
Mid: Jesse Orosco
Mid: Armando Benitez
Mid: Turk Wendell
Long Man: Bobby Ojeda

Series: Copy, Paste, and Check Them Out

The rest of the series so far:

Phillies: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/245179-phillies-all-time-acquired-team