New York Mets: The top individual player seasons of this millennium

Even with only four playoff trips since 2000, New York Mets fans have seen some of the most memorable times in team history this millennium.

Some of the greatest names in New York Mets‘ history have taken the field over the last 16 years. Although that has resulted in just four postseason appearances during that time, the Mets organization and its fans have had some incredible memories made by those star players.

With guys like Mike Piazza, David Wright, Jose Reyes, and Johan Santana having all played in Queens since 2000, the Mets have seen more than their fair share of top major league talent on their roster.

As this team has become a serious contender the last couple of seasons, brought on by the work of general manager Sandy Alderson and manager Terry Collins, follow us as we look back at the top individual player seasons this millennium by New York Mets players.

11. CP Armando Benitez, 2000

2000 Season stats — 41 saves, 76 innings pitched, 2.61 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 38 walks/106 strikeouts

Closers have come-a-plenty for the Mets over the last 16 seasons, with the likes of lefty Billy Wagner, Francisco Rodriguez and now Jeurys Familia having all been stalwarts at the back-end of the ‘pen. But Armando Benitez cannot be forgotten, as the righty closed for the Mets for parts of five seasons in the early 2000s.

His best season was in 2000 though, when he posted 41 saves on 46 tries, struck out over 100 in just 76 innings pitched and had a minuscule 1.01 WHIP. His ability to limit baserunners at the end of games immensely contributed to his success in Queens.

10. SP Johan Santana, 2008

2008 Season stats — 16-7 record, 234.1 innings pitched, three complete games, two shutouts, 2.53 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 63 walks/206 strikeouts

No-Han, as he’ll be forever known in Mets’ lore for throwing the first no-hitter in team history, was a true ace for the franchise — something they’d lacked in recent years. Santana had won a pitching triple crown as well as two Cy-Young awards during his time with the Minnesota Twins, making him one of the most valuable arms in the league then.

His best season with the Mets was in 2008, where he was the anchor for the team’s rotation, starting 34 games. Santana was also voted third in the NL Cy Young vote after winning 16 games with over 200 strikeouts and two shutouts during his campaign.

Santana eventually flamed out not too long after his 130-plus pitch no-hitter, where many believe he pushed his 33-year-old arm a little too far past its breaking point.

9. SP R.A. Dickey, 2012

2012 Season stats — 20-6 record, 233.2 innings pitched, five complete games, three shutouts, 2.73 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 54 walks/230 strikeouts

The knuckleballer came out of nowhere for the Mets in 2010, throwing a wicked, low 80s knuckleball, mixed with a mid-80s fastball. He pitched a 2.84 ERA that season and showed great control for a pitch that is typically very hard to place.

Dickey’s 2012 season was the peak of his time in New York though, striking out nearly a batter an inning – a completely absurd feat for a knuckleballer – and winning 20 games. His work in the rotation that season earned him the NL Cy-Young Award.

Alderson seems to have known what he was doing though by trading Dickey away after his Cy-Young campaign to the Toronto Blue Jays for starter Noah Syndergaard, catcher Travis d’Arnaud, and prospect outfielder Wuilmer Becerra. Dickey fell off in a major league way after leaving Queens and the Mets were handed a fireballer ace in Syndergaard in the exchange.

8. RF Curtis Granderson, 2015

2015 Season stats — 580 at-bats, .259/.364/.457, 98 runs, 33 doubles, 26 home runs, 70 RBIs, 11 stolen bases, 91 walks/151 strikeouts

The Mets have not had many great right fielders over the last 16 years, so this pick was kind of a wash. But Curtis Granderson was, in hindsight, a vital cog in a Mets lineup that made it to the 2015 World Series.

Grandy-man’s work atop the lineup then was invaluable, as he completely changed his all-out home run approach from his time with the crosstown Yankees to a much more balanced, intelligent style up at the plate. Even at 34-years-old, Granderson still showed solid pull and gap power, enabling him to hit for extra bases consistently, and helping to ignite the Mets’ hitters from the top.

He’ll also throw in a stolen base at certain points, showing a sneaky penchant for stealing second when the Mets are in dire need of a runner in scoring position. Grandy’s made countless important catches and throws over his three seasons traversing the outfield expanses of Citi Field, making his presence even more invaluable for the Mets.

7. CF Carlos Beltran, 2006

2006 Season stats — 510 at-bats, .275/.388/.594, 127 runs, 38 doubles, 41 home runs, 116 RBIs, 18 stolen bases, 95 walks/99 strikeouts

Carlos Beltran finished fourth in the NL MVP vote in 2006, also winning the Silver Slugger and Gold Glove Awards too. His ability to have an all-around great statistical season in just 140 games shows the kind of run Beltran can go on at the drop of a hat.

The smooth routes Beltran took to flyballs in the outfield made him look more effortless than any other Met outfielder in franchise history. The great speed he possessed was used on the basepaths as well, stealing 18 bags to just three times caught that season. In fact, Beltran ranks fourth in major league history in stolen base efficiency at nearly 86.5 percent.

As if his game could get any more complete, Beltran is also a switch hitter, showing nearly identical power ability from either side of the plate. He was sorely missed in the Mets’ lineup for a few seasons after his departure via trade to the San Francisco Giants, but the return of starter Zack Wheeler was a great addition for a then beginning to rebuild Mets squad.

6. LF Yoenis Cespedes, 2016

2016 Season stats — 479 at-bats, .280/.354/.530, 72 runs, 25 doubles, 31 home runs, 86 RBIs, 51 walks/108 strikeouts

Cliff Floyd‘s 2007 season almost took the cake here, but Yoenis Cespedes’ last season takes it due to a higher average, slugging percentage and his overall value to the team. Perhaps no one has meant more to the success or failure of any other group in franchise history.

With an already weak offense, a struggling with runners-in-scoring-position Curtis Granderson and injuries to Lucas Duda and Wright each of the last two seasons, Cespedes has a way of sparking the lineup into actually hitting. His bat provides valuable protection to anyone in front of him and his pure power may be unmatched in today’s major leagues.

His numbers in 2016 were not ‘blow away’ like some of the others on this list, but voters reacted to his team worth by placing him eighth in the NL MVP vote and giving him a Silver Slugger award. With his return to the Mets in question for 2017, fans and teammates of Cespedes alike are hoping Alderson can pay up and lure him back to Queens.

5. SS Jose Reyes, 2006

2006 Season stats — 647 at-bats, .300/.354/.487, 122 runs, 30 doubles, 17 triples, 19 home runs, 81 RBIs, 64 stolen bases, 53 walks/81 strikeouts

Jose Reyes may be the most dynamic player to ever wear a New York Mets uniform. He had many great seasons, but 2006 was the peak of his success as one of the best shortstops in baseball at the time.

That season, Reyes set the table for the rest of the Mets’ big bats with a .300 average, 47 combined doubles and triples and still managing 64 steals. What’s makes this performance even more impressive is that he still was a run-producer, grabbing 81 RBIs on 19 homers.

The team won 96 games that year and it’s thanks in no small part to the work of Reyes as the game’s most intense lead-off man. Unfortunately, the Mets have been in a never-ending search for someone to replace him as a top-of-the-order hitter, although he did a fine job filling in at third base last season, helping to spark the team’s playoff run.

4. 3B David Wright, 2007

2007 Season stats — 604 at-bats, .325/.416/.546, 113 runs, 42 doubles, 30 home runs, 107 RBIs, 34 stolen bases, 94 walks/115 strikeouts

This pick is an absolute no-brainer as third baseman David Wright has been the embodiment and face of the New York Mets organization since his call-up in 2004 at age 21. He has nearly 1000 career RBIs in 13 seasons for the team he grew up in Norfolk, VA idealizing as a kid. And his overflowing stat-sheet in 2007 showed everything Wright was capable of.

The 6-foot, 205-pound righty finished 2007 as one of the just 60 players all-time to make the 30-30 club, hitting 30 homers and stealing 34 bags in the same season. Wright was also voted fourth in the NL MVP vote, also making the All-Star game and winning a Silver Slugger award in the process.

He somehow managed to round out his game even more completely, receiving one of his two career Gold Glove awards at third base that year as well. Wright’s famous barehanded plays on high hops and while charging ground balls, along with his unique tongue-out-of-the-mouth at-bat facial expression are just a part of what will cement him in as one of the greatest players to ever don the orange and blue.

3. 2B Edgardo Alfonzo, 2000

2000 Season stats — 544 at-bats, .324/.425/.542, 109 runs, 40 doubles, 25 home runs, 94 RBIs, 95 walks/70 strikeouts

A sudden emergence of power-hitting second baseman has taken over today’s game, with the Minnesota Twins Brian Dozier, Seattle Mariners Robinson Cano, Texas Rangers Rougned Odor and St. Louis Cardinals Jedd Gyorko all having hit over 30 homers in 2016.

But Edgardo Alfonzo did things a little earlier, hitting 25 homers of his own, paired with a .324 average and .425 on-base percentage in 2000. But where Alfonzo really stood out was his walk-to-strikeout ratio, where he managed 25 more walks than Ks – with none of the current four 2B above having come even near that mark last season. With those numbers, he managed an All-Star appearance and finished 15th in the National League MVP vote.

Alfonzo was also second only to Piazza on the team in home runs that year, creating a duo that would drive the Mets that year to the Subway Series on 94 wins and 807 runs scored under manager Bobby Valentine.

2. 1B Carlos Delgado, 2008

2008 Season stats — 598 at-bats, .271/.353/.518, 96 runs, 32 doubles, 38 home runs, 115 RBIs, 72 walks/124 strikeouts

One of the premier power hitters in the MLB consistently during his 17-year career, Carlos Delgado came to the Mets in 2006 at 34 years-old and became a fan favorite immediately. The 6-foot-3, 215 pound lefty finished in the top-12 of the MVP vote six times in his career (twice with the Mets), winning three Silver Slugger Awards as well.

Delgado was a force to be reckoned with in the cleanup spot of the Mets lineup in 2008, getting plenty of RBI opportunities hitting behind accomplished bats in third baseman David Wright, center fielder Carlos Beltran and shortstop Jose Reyes. In fact, they were such a dangerous group, that this was perhaps the most formidable lineup the Mets have put together over the last 16 years, scoring one run shy of 800 runs that season.

The pure power he had is something reminiscent of recent Mets star outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, given both player’s ability to hit fastballs and make his homers look effortless.

1. C Mike Piazza, 2000

2000 Season stats – 482 at-bats, .324/.398/.614, 90 runs, 26 doubles, 38 home runs, 113 RBIs, 58 walks/69 strikeouts

Mike Piazza, a recent Hall Of Fame inductee, is one of the greatest catchers of all-time, having garnered 12 All-Star appearances, 10 Silver Slugger Awards, a Rookie of the Year Award and finished nine seasons in the top-15 of the MVP vote during his illustrious 16-year career in the MLB.

He had many great years in Queens, but his season in 2000 proved to be his best, hitting .324 with 38 homers and just 69 strikeouts. Strikeout numbers that low are almost non-existent in today’s major leagues, as many players easily exceed 100 a season. Piazza’s work that year also propelled the Mets to the famous Subway Series, where they ultimately lost to the Yankees 4-1.

Piazza’s pure power and overall hitting prowess easily makes him, not only the greatest hitting catcher in Mets’ franchise history, but the best catcher in general. His iconic and meaningful home run in the first post-9/11 game back in Queens on September 21, 2001 will also forever live in the minds of New Yorkers as a moment of triumph in times of trouble.