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McReynolds a Met Compadre
Newsday
Friday, December 12, 1986
The defending World Champion Mets have made a blockbuster multi-player trade with the San Diego Padres, acquiring Kevin McReynolds (and others) and losing Kevin Mitchell (and others).
Tags: Stan Jefferson, Gene Walter, Kevin Mitchell, Kevin McReynolds
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Visitor Comments
Hot Foot
November 17, 2022
Instead of making this idiotic trade, the Mets could have signed Tim Raines to play left. Or Andre Dawson. Or Kirk Gibson.
WHY COULDN'T THEY HAVE AT LEAST SENT HOWARD JOHNSON PACKING? He would have been PERFECT for the Padres.
ARRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHH!
(primal scream)
ARRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHH!
(another primal scream)
This trade was (and is) like the Manson murders to me. Instead of the end of the hippie dream, it was the end of the Mets' dream, at least for me.
Scoey
June 5, 2023
Despite anyone's negative opinions about McReynolds, the trade covered in this story worked out better for the Mets than it did for the Padres. Kevin was among the Mets' best hitters during his six seasons with the team. Meanwhile, the other Kevin in the deal played just 62 games over three months with the San Diego club before being dealt to the Giants. Mitchell went on to have a fine career that included an MVP Award, but none of what he did came with him in a Padres uniform. If transactions between teams could be judged officially, the Mets would be declared the winners here.
Hot Foot
July 6, 2023
Scoey, you are correct if you discount the fact that the Padres forfeited their right to win this trade when they traded Mitchell to the Giants for Chris Brown in the summer of '87. Take a look at their parallel stats during their prime years.
Kevin Mitchell vs Kevin McReynolds Batting Stats (for Years 1987 to 1991)
Games Mitchell 686 McReynolds 736
AB Mitchell 2407 McReynolds 2730
Runs Mitchell 370 McReynolds 382
Hits Mitchell 662 McReynolds 745
Doubles Mitchell 116 McReynolds 142
Triples Mitchell 18 McReynolds 12
HR Mitchell 150 McReynolds 118
RBI Mitchell 437 McReynolds 435
SB Mitchell 23 McReynolds 65
BA Mitchell .275 McReynolds .273
OBP Mitchell .353 McReynolds .331
SLG Mitchell .525 McReynolds .463
OPS Mitchell .878 McReynolds .794
OPS+ Mitchell 146 McReynolds 122
Haircuts Given Mitchell 10+ McReynolds 0
So my question is, Scoey, do you still make the trade?
Vinson Massif
July 10, 2023
Hot Foot, your numerical comparisons of McReynolds to Mitchell have nothing to do with the big picture. The Mets acquired McReynolds to bring stability to the left field position and he filled that role very well. Kevin Mac was also one of the top players for a Mets team that remained competitive for four more years after the 1986 championship. The team did not return to the World Series with McReynolds, but Mitchell's presence wouldn't have changed this fact.
The '86 Mets were a team of free spirits that got into bad situations both during and after the season. This had to be rectified quickly and bringing in the low-key McReynolds was essential. If Mitchell had still been around, the team's rebel reputation was going to continue and have a negative effect on the organization. Mitchell may have posted great batting statistics as a Met over the next five years, but the team was still bound to drop out of pennant-contender status sooner than it did because of the players' out-of-control ways. In 1988, the Mets might not have won another division title if Mitchell had been there instead of McReynolds.
If I may respond to the question directed to Scoey, my answer would be "Yes, I'd still make the trade of Mitchell for McReynolds." The team received a much-needed humbling and they continued to win enough ball games to be in pennant races. Another World Series title for the Mets was not in the cards regardless of which Kevin they had, but they came closer to it with McReynolds' calming influence than they would have with any high numbers from the rebellious Mitchell on a deteriorating club.
Glenrock
July 10, 2023
Hot Foot's stats are clearly nothing more than a way of putting down Kevin McReynolds, whom he seems to despise. The addition of McReynolds had a neutralizing effect on the Mets that was greatly needed. The team had just won the World Series but was also comprised of individuals that average folks wouldn't want to encounter. Mitchell seemed to fall into that group of undesirables on the team.
After the Mets traded him to the Padres for McReynolds, Mitchell was dealt away again to the Giants almost immediately. Rumor had it at the time that, being back in his hometown, Mitchell was hanging around with people in San Diego's rougher sections trying to find his brother's killer. The Padres had to get rid of him for his own safety. The Mets' players of questionable character weren't quite at that level, but they did make a habit of pushing the limits. The management had to counter this problem. If the stories about Mitchell's manhunt in San Diego are true, then it's apparent that he was the kind of person that would promote or enhance more erratic behavior. Bringing in McReynolds did something to clean up the atmosphere.
Had Mitchell remained in New York, there was no guarantee that he would have been as productive as he became with the Giants in 1989. If he still turned out to be a National League home run and RBI leader, it was unlikely that another Mets world championship was going to result from it with the kind of guys they had. Baseball is a team game first, and one individual does not a team make. It's about what the players are like as a unit.
My response to Hot Foot's question after looking at the worthless Mitchell-McReynolds numbers is that I'd make the same trade again. The Mets' chances of winning another title with Mitchell were even less than they were with McReynolds. The team was better off with McReynolds' quiet nature than Mitchell's rambunctiousness.
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