The following is a 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 this series analyzes the Yankees’ roster as they open up a home-and-home series at Yankee Stadium tonight.
Chad Green: Green was acquired by the Yankees alongside Luis Cessa in December 2015 for Justin Wilson. In July of that year, the Mets had sent Cessa to the Tigers with Michael Fulmer for Yoenis Cespedes.
Jaime Garcia: The suddenly well-traveled pitcher was involved in his first of three trades since last season when he was sent from the Cardinals to the Braves in exchange for three minor leaguers. One of those prospects was former Mets farmhand John Gant, who was used to acquire Kelly Johnson (the first time) and Juan Uribe in 2015.
Tommy Kahnle, Todd Frazier, David Robertson: One of the Yankees’ big moves at the trade deadline, these three players were acquired for a package of prospects plus Tyler Clippard, whose 2015 stint with the Mets was a little longer than his recently ended White Sox tenure.
Draft Connections
2011, first round: Brandon Nimmo (Mets, 13) and Sonny Gray (Athletics, 18)
2013, first round: Dominic Smith (Mets, 11) and Aaron Judge (Yankees, 32)
Hometown Connections
Jeurys Familia and Gary Sanchez fulfill very different roles for their respective teams, but they play in the same city. Sharing a city is nothing new to these two, as they were both born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
Campus Connections
Although at different times, Jacoby Ellsbury and Michael Conforto both went to college at the baseball powerhouse Oregon State.
Two players that did share time on campus were Adam Warren and Matt Harvey, who were drafted out of North Carolina in 2009 and 2010, respectively.
Photo credit: Brad Penner – USA Today Sports