MLB: Los Angeles Dodgers at Arizona Diamondbacks

Mets connections: Arizona Diamondbacks

The following is the sixth edition of what is part of each of the series previews here at BP Mets. “Mets Connections” takes a look at the opposing teams’ rosters and highlights some of the noteworthy or interesting links that can be drawn between those players and the Mets organization. Some of these links may be obvious, such as if an opposing player has formerly played for New York, but some may be lesser known tidbits, such as if a player was previously drafted by the Mets. This version of the series analyzes the Dbacks’ roster as they open up a three-game set in Arizona tonight.
The Diamondbacks do not have any former Mets on their active roster coming into the series, but have two players who have been traded for a current or former Met. The following is a list of some the Diamondbacks’ most significant Mets connections:
Jorge de la Rosa: The Diamondbacks’ hurler may have been involved in transactions with more former Mets than any other player. He was sent from Boston to Arizona alongside ex-Mets Casey Fossum and Brandon Lyon for Curt Schilling in 2003. Three days later, he was again traded from Arizona to Milwaukee with a former Met, this time Chris Capuano, in a large deal for Shane Nance and Richie Sexson. Finally, in 2008, he was traded from Kansas City to Colorado for a former Met in the form of Ramon Ramirez.
Jeff Mathis: The Marlins-Blue Jays blockbuster of 2012 is the gift that keeps on giving in this series, as yet another player can be tied to Jose Reyes through that deal. Mathis was part of the package that went back to the Fish.
Zack Godley: The Arizona pitcher was originally drafted by the Mets in the 50th round in 2009, but chose to go to the University of Tennessee instead. He was eventually drafted by the Cubs in 2013, then was traded to the Diamondbacks in 2014 for Miguel Montero.
Campus Connections: Chris Iannetta and Matt Harvey both attended the University of North Carolina, through Ianetta was drafted four years before Harvey pitched for the Tar Heels.
Hometown Connections: Three pairs of opposing players were born in the same city. J.J. Hoover and Neil Walker were born in Pittsburgh, David Peralta and Wilmer Flores hail from Valencia, Venezuela, and Jake Lamb and Michael Conforto were born in Seattle.

Photo credit: Jennifer Stewart – USA Today Sports

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