Mets Connections: San Diego Padres

Zane Moran — Tue, 23 May 2017 10:00:06 +0000

The following is the eighth 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 Padres’ roster as they open up a three-game set in New York tonight.

The Padres do not have any former Mets on their active roster, but have two players who have been traded for a current or former Met. The following is a list of some the Padres’ most significant Mets connections:

Wil Myers: The Padres’ first baseman has been involved in two blockbuster trades in his young career, so it may be easy to forget Mets’ backstop René Rivera was part of the three-team Myers-Souza-Ross/Turner deal between the Padres, Rays, and Nationals. Rivera was part of the package sent to Tampa Bay alongside Steven Souza.

Chase d’Arnaud: Making his second appearance on one of these lists, after appearing on the Braves’ edition a few weeks ago, the elder d’Arnaud brother has been caught up in a game of waiver claim hot potato. He’s now with the Padres, his third club in a month.

Jarred Cosart: The Padres’ pitcher was dealt by the Phillies with Josh Zeid, Domingo Santana, and Jon Singleton for the Astros’ Hunter Pence at the 2011 trade deadline. Zeid spent some time in the Mets’ system last year, but did not make an MLB appearance.

Hometown Connections: Padres hitters Luis Torrens and Yangervis Solarte both reign from Valencia, Venezuela, which is where Wilmer Flores was also born.

Campus Connections: Jerry Blevins and Craig Stammen played together at the University of Dayton from 2003-2004. Both had relatively unappealing underclassmen seasons before improving enough their senior years to get drafted in the middle rounds (Blevins in the 17th round in 2004 and Stammen in the 12th in 2005) in back-to-back drafts.

Photo credit: Jake Roth – USA Today Sports

Mets connections: Atlanta Braves

Zane Moran — Tue, 25 Apr 2017 10:00:35 +0000

The following is the first edition of what will hopefully be part of each of the series previews here at BP Mets. “Mets Connections” will take a look at the opposing teams’ rosters and highlight 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. The first version of this series analyzes the Braves’ roster as they open up a three game set in Flushing tonight.
The Braves have four former Mets on their active roster coming into the series, as well as five players who have been traded for a former or current Met. The following is a list of some the Braves’ most significant Mets connections:
Brandon Phillips: Despite not blossoming until he was later traded to the Reds, Phillips was part of the 2002 deal that sent him alongside Cliff Lee, Grady Sizemore, and Lee Stevens to Cleveland in exchange for Bartolo Colon and Tim Drew.
Bartolo Colon: Speaking of “Big Sexy,” besides cementing himself in Mets’ lore over the past three years, Colon was once dealt for former Mets’ starter Orlando Hernandez, who finished his career with New York in 2007.
Jaime Garcia: While he has never been part of a trade for a former or current Mets big leaguer, Garcia was sent to the Braves this past offseason in a deal that included two prospects of note. John Gant was part of the first Kelly Johnson deal in 2015 after spending four years in the Mets’ farm system. Luke Dykstra, a second base prospect in the trade, is the son of former Mets’ and Phillies’ star Lenny Dykstra.
R.A. Dickey: The only Braves player to have been traded for a current Met is R.A. Dickey. That deal with the Blue Jays, of course, is one near and dear to Mets fans’ hearts, as it was responsible for netting the Mets young stud Noah Syndergaard and starting catcher Travis d’Arnaud.
Chase d’Arnaud: While their familial relationship is not as well documented as Corey and Kyle Seager, Justin and Melvin Upton, or even Ben and Justin Verlander, Chase and Travis have pulled off the rare feat of siblings in professional sports.
Ender Inciarte: The connection between Yoenis Cespedes and Ender Inciarte may not be readily apparent. Besides both being outfielders in the NL East, their playing styles are starkly different, and they have share no previous teams. The link here comes through a little known relief prospect named Gabe Speier, as both Inciarte and Cespedes have been involved in trades that also included the pitcher. Cespedes and Speier were traded together to the Tigers in the Rick Porcello deal, and Speier was later traded by the Braves as the throw-in piece of the infamous Shelby Miller trade with the Diamondbacks.
The other two former Mets on the Braves roster are Eric O’Flaherty and Anthony Recker.

Photo credit: Brett Davis – USA Today Sports

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Mets Connections: San Diego Padres

Mets connections: Atlanta Braves