How a Cancelled Mets Trade Still Matters Today 

Barry Bonds injury in 2005 leads to the Giants Dynasty from 2010 to 2014. While Barry Bonds was at his best, the Giants constantly forfeited draft picks and plundered their farm system to keep bringing in players to help win Bonds his World Series. This included forfeiting picks in 2004 for signing Michael Tucker and 2005 for signing Armando Benitez. The Giants averaged 95 wins a season from 2000 to 2004, but could not win their first title since moving from New York. Bonds dealt with injuries throughout most of 2005, chiefly with his knee. Missing Bonds from their lineup caused the Giants to fall apart in 2005 and winning only 75 games. Dropping 15 games in the standings without one player proved to them that they needed to build a team around something other than an aging slugger. The Giants elected to not giving up their 2006 Draft Pick by signing a free agent and used it to draft hard throwing pitcher Tim Lincecum. The 2007 Giants, after surrendering a later round pick to sign Barry Zito, got another pick from the Mets after losing Moises Alou. The Giants used one of their first round picks to draft Left handed hurler Madison Bumgarner. To further emphasize their need to move on from Bonds, the Giants did not offer him a contract after the season. The Giants use another pick in 2008 to draft catcher Buster Posey. In 2009, they draft Zack Wheeler (who in turn is flipped to the Mets for Carlos Beltran in 2011, the same year they used another pick to Joe Panik) In 2010, the Giants finally win their first World Series since 1954, not on the back of the World's greatest baseball player, but with a team built through the farm and development.

One of my favorite trades was Ichiro to the Yankees. The game was in Seattle, 10PM Eastern and I was tired. It took me a few innings before I realized he was playing for the Yankees and not the Mariners.

Gotta be one of the most bullshit things in sports to be traded in the middle of a game. If you've spent a while with that team it's like finding out your dog died over social media while you're at Disneyland

Butterfly Effect Idea: In 2004 while still on the 49ers, Terrell Owens was traded to the Baltimore Ravens for a second round pick, as the 49ers believed they still had the rights for TO. His agent had voided the last year of his contract, so TO negotiated with teams as if he was a free agent. That's when he ended up with the Eagles. If I remember correctly, TO was quoted saying he was excited to join the ravens until he realized Kyle Boller was going to be his QB, and that's why he refused the trade

really gonna put altuve on the thumbnail 🙄

If not for this scandal, would Alex Cora still be managing the Red Sox? Oh... wait...

Ok now do the Yankees, Boston, Colorado, etc now that all of them got caught.

8 mins in and no mention of how this relates to the astros cheating

This is not one of your better videos. I will say you did your research, and you presented in a well thought out and methodical way. However, you presented SO MUCH information it is impossible to follow. With the title you chose, I came into this expecting a clear, concise explanation of how the cancelled Flores trade directly led to the Astros scandal, and you even started down that road for the first few minutes by discussing that cancelled trade. But then you went off on a tangent that seemingly had nothing to do with what you stated is the subject of the video: the Astrid scandal. How does Cessa, Fullmer, or Justin Wilson factor in to the Astros scandal? If you explained in the video, it’s buried beneath all the other info you presented. Finally, you need more visual aids on more complicated videos like this. You were on the right track with the board with strings, but it would have been better if you fleshed out that idea with an actual visual aid like that. Still a fan, keep up the good work

Well, that was underwhelming…. Sat through that whole thing waiting to hear about the Astros .. and when he finally got to it, it was already over…. A for Effort, but that was disappointing💯

Maybe I have a peanut brain but I failed to see how any of this had something to do with Wilmer Flores

While it's neat to try to connect the dots to weird events of the past, this video is grasping at straws here... sure, you need fiers to be traded to the Astros in 2015, but the Astros didn't start the signal stealing until Beltran and other coaches came up with the idea to abuse the shit in 2017. The only real event prior to the scandal that eventually leads to Fiers ratting out his ex-team is Mike Fiers own actions the night of 9/13/17 when Fiers started against the Angels. Fiers would end up getting suspended after throwing a pitch above Luis Valbuena's (RIP) head. Fiers gets into it with AJ Hinch after his ejection, and that pretty much ended his time with the Astros, as Hinch kept Fiers off of the 2017 postseason rosters after that. Without Fiers melting down on 9/13/17 because of Valbuena was being Valbuena (I seriously miss that dude. He was the best), Fiers might have made postseason roster and none of the bad blood with Hinch and the Astros would have existed and I doubt he rats on the scheme. THAT'S THE STORY WORTH TELLING HERE. not all these random trades that happened in 2015...

12 mins of random trades to mention the Astros for 10 seconds great video

You should do a story on players who got traded for themselves - it's actually happened more than a handful of times in MLB history.

Nice work, with one exception: Altuve's picture in thumbnail. He was one of the few on the Astros who wasn't using the trash can signals. Put up Bregman or Correa, or better yet Carlos Beltran's pic there. Altuve has already been smeared enough. He's an honorable man and deserves better.

I want to forget this trade happened. Astros got a snitch and the centerfield version of 2022 Javy Baez.

Wheeler proved himself as a premier pitcher in the league in 2018 and 2019 with the Mets. Not signing him after 2019 still infuriates me to this day.

What happen to the yankee caught cheating story

Butterfilt Effect Idea: Bartolo Colon lying to the Indians led to the 2019 Nationals world series. Back in the mid 90s, a young pitcher named Bartolo was being scouted by Cleveland, wanting to make himself look more appealing to them, he fudged his age by two years, which wouldn't come out till around 2002. By that time, Colon had become a bona-fide ace, and the Expos (on the verge of contraction), wanted to throw a hail mary to save the team, sending several top prospects to Cleveland for Colon. Colon played well but they still missed the playoffs, and he would be sent packing to Chicago by the start of 03. Those top prospects sent to Cleveland were future all stars, Cliff Lee, Grady Sizemore and Brandon Phillips. Without those guys, the now Washington Nationals had no choice but to tank and start from scratch, netting them guys like Stephen Strasburg and Anthony Rendon (two key players for that run). If Bartolo doesnt lie about his age to Cleveland, it's unlikely they take a flyer on him, meaning Montreal doesnt ship the farm for him, meaning Washington isn't bad enough to land the guys that would win them the 2019 World Series.

David Wright trade tree that spanned 40 years..

Mike Fiers said, "I would like to see the LEAGUE cleaned up." This was in regards to sign stealing and obviously implying that it was league-wide, but nobody wants to talk about that.

Y’all still trying to bring up the Astros cheating scandal

You should do a video that exposes all the teams that have cheated and majorly history but you can start with the Commissioners letter about the Yankees that was finally unsealed

At no point did this video outline how these trades directly affected the exposure of the astros cheating scandal lmao

Parades has played the same amount of games for the rays as he did in two years for the tigers. The only difference is home runs, same amount of hits, walks, strike outs which is kind of strange

If the Mets had traded for Gomez and not Cespedes, my Mets don’t make the WS. After the Mets traded for Cespedes, he went off! Having one of the most insane streetches in Mets and baseball history! No Cespedes no World Series

What's the difference between banging on a trashcan and using the camera to relay signs, and using an Apple watch and a camera to relay signs? One used some Tom And Jerry ...Acme... shinanigans, and one used modern technology ...both were wrong but the media and fans are only disturbed by one of these actions.

Any mentions on the big teams like the Yankees starting it in 2015, and the Astros acquisition of players like a former Mets and Yankee brought the system to Houston, a system that was league wide in 2017?

And after all that, the Astros are still whopping everyone’s assssss . 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

Are we really still whining about this?

You could have simplified the video by just what If the Astros never signed Carlos Beltran. He came from the Yankees and brought the system of cheating to the young Astros.

Idea: Hal Newhouser quitting his scouting job for the astors in protest of not drafting Derek Jeter #1 in the 1992 draft

It seems that NY is the only trash the Astros are beating lately

Wilmer Floress was my favorite player when he was on the mets

You could even argue that they really started to notice and crack down on other cheating, I’m mainly talking about “sticky stuff”. I officially like to believe that if that fiers was still in Milwaukee we would still have sticky stuff on the pitchers.

Can you make the direct connection between this non-trade and the guy ending up on the Astros any more clear? Going over 20 other people's career trajectories in the middle of this video really made it hard to follow. There seems to be a million other ways Fiers could have ended up on the Astros even if the trade happened

As a mets fan the only error i find is that you said we didnt resign wheeler because he didnt showcase his true potential. But really its because the wilpons were cheap bum owners who let him walk after finally showing his true potential

what does any of this horseshit have to do with astros?

Brewers ended up getting that short stop they wanted in Willy adames who stemmed from this trade. Willy we miss you in Tampa

I like to think in 2019 Yelich’s injury while on the Brewers caused a butterfly effect where the guy who replaced him in the OF (can’t recall his name) made a crucial error in the WC game against the Nats that allowed the Nats to advance and eventually go on to win the WS that year, which then led to them basically selling off almost everyone and being the shockingly terrible team they are now.

The Red Sox’s failed trade for Alex Rodriguez led to the Rays having Tyler Glasnow and Issac Parades

I’d bet if you looked deep enough into a lot of the scandals or big issues in any major sports I’d bet there is something like this behind the scenes that just haven’t been found yet. It’s weird how things work out but the puzzle pieces don’t always get put together

I just wish Carlos Gomez was better for the Mets, he's such a fun player to watch.

At this point he only put the “cheating” Astros to get views.

May we dive deeper into the trade that was between the colts and falcons which I dub the Matt Ryan trade

Mike Fiers blew the whistle on the Astros. Wtf is this???

I played against Austin in Highschool. He was one town over. Kid was a stud. He picked which professional sport he wanted. He had the option to go pro in basketball baseball and football. I remember playing left field while Austin was up to bat and he LAUNCHED one over my head. It was past me by the time I heard the ding off the bat. I never saw it land it went so far into the trees.

I enjoyed the video, kind of like a compilation of kind of connected (theoretically) oddities. That being said... bro, the payoff was not good. I am so confused how any of this plays together. The idea is great, the execution was at least thought out, but the landing was non-existent. Good video..... kinda.

A butterfly effect that could be interesting would be how the '94 strike led to the Nationals winning the World Series in 2019. The '94 season was the best chance for the Expos to have a good enough season to keep them in Montreal, but after the season got cut short, they were never able to have that kind of 'save the team' season again. That led to them moving to Washington a decade later, where they won the World Series. I'm sure there's more depth to it than that, but it would be interesting to dive into that.

Good Lord. This is getting beyond ridiculous. People who have not played the game litterally have no idea that every single team in the MLB was doing something illegal but the Astros took the fall for all the teams. When are people going to give this nonsense a rest. 🤦‍♂️

You should do a video on all the HOF players in the 50/60/70 who were doing greenies. But... but remember it's not cheating cause that's what the T.V. told me. 🙄

Shouldn’t you have started in 2007 when the Mets traded Gomez to the twins to for Johan Santana

2017 was lit. Go Go was a fan favorite in Houston kinda. No matter what, my Stros will be made the scapegoat to protect Boston, NY and LA.

Where's the rest of the tour series you guys were doing? I was looking forward to your possible video about South Korean Baseball.

If you blame sign stealing and trash cans you a petty batch And they're still a top tier team even with new coach the distraction of this bs and letting some all stars go

Get over it it was like 6 years ago

I was at that flores walk off game, i’m a yankees fan but some of my friends and dad are mets fans and that game was the most electric environment i’ve ever been in, shit was crazy

LOL. People who still cry about the Astros cheating are like bad exes, just get over it. It happened, they were punished, and now they’re not cheating and they’re winning just like before.

Lol it always cracks me up the way gringos pronounce spanish last names hahaha “Puhraydeez” 😂😂 Bless your heart ik you’re trying your best

Hey Mike I've got a great butterfly effect for you ahead of the trade deadline! Would love to see a video about it🙏 A Failed Yankees Trade in 2003 led to One of the Biggest Trades at the 2022 Deadline In 2001, the Yankees signed a Dominican shortstop by the name of Robinson Cano. After 2 years in the Yanks system, NY tried to trade him along with Sterling Hitchcock, Raul Mondesi and Jeff Weaver to the Cincinnati Reds for Scott Williamson, Gabe White, Ken Griffey Jr, and 30 mil cash. This rumor was leaked on July 27, 2003. Well about 10 days before the leak, Griffey got injured so the trade was off and the Yankees kept Cano in their system. Fast forward to the 2003 offseason and they tried to trade Cano again. This time Phil Rodgers of the Chicago Tribune reported a 3 team deal between the Yankees Angels and White Sox, where Cano and 2 Angels (Jarrod Washburn and Darin Erstad) would go to Chicago, fellow Yankees infield prospect Joaquin Arias would join the White Sox' Paul Konerko and Jose Valentin in heading to Anaheim, and Troy Glaus would go to the Yankees. But that trade fell through and the Yanks kept Cano once again. Separately but just as important: in that same offseason, NYY 3B Aaron Boone got injured playing basketball and missed the 2004 season so the Yankees now had to fill a hole at third. Following that event the Yankees then traded Alfonso Soriano and a PTBNL to the Texas Rangers for Alex Rodriguez. That PTBNL could have been Cano, but the Rangers instead opted to go with Joaquin Arias. So now to the 2004 trade deadline, Cano was drawing lots of interest. A Royals scout requested him to move to third base, so the Yankees moved him to the hot corner. The Yankees received trade offers that involved Cano from the Royals, Diamondbacks, Mariners and Braves, but they instead opted to trade for the Big Unit from Arizona without giving up Cano. In the 2004 offseason the Yankees chose to sign 2B Tony Womack instead of giving Cano a chance. But Cano's chance came anyway in May 2005 when Womack was terrible for NYY. Robbie took that chance and ran with it, and one anonymous Yankees official during the 2005 season said this: "Thank god we didn't trade him. Imagine if he was doing that for someone else? We'd never hear the end of it." After a solid first two seasons in the big leagues, Cano and the Yankees agreed to terms on a 4yr/$30MM contract extension with 2 club options for 2012 and 2013. Robinson Cano then became a superstar and one of the best offensive middle infielders in baseball. This led him to the 2013 offseason where he signed a 10yr/$240MM contract with the Seattle Mariners. Each year from 2014-2017 Cano produced a productive season, living up to his contract. But that all changed in 2018 when he got popped for steroids and missed 80 games. After he came back and the Mariners failed to make the playoffs, the team then decided they could not compete with a competitive AL with an aging roster. So then came the blockbuster. On December 3rd, 2018 the Mariners sent closer Edwin Diaz, second baseman Robinson Cano and cash to the New York Mets for a haul of prospects/veterans. Those prospects were outfielder Jarred Kelenic, pitcher Justin Dunn, pitcher Anthony Swarzak, OF/1B Jay Bruce and pitcher Gerson Bautista. This is where the focus is no longer on Cano or even Kelenic, who was deemed by everyone as the headliner. But for this butterfly effect we need to see what happens to Justin Dunn. After the trade, Dunn pitched for the Mariners for 3 seasons, battling injuries and underperformance. He was off to a solid start in 2021 before shoulder issues shut him down for the year. Then, after last winter's lockout, the Mariners dealt Dunn to the Cincinnati Reds alongside OF Jake Fraley, LHP Brandon Williamson and RHP Connor Phillips for outfielder Jesse Winker and 3B Eugenio Suarez. Winker and Suarez are the link to the most recent trade as they were teammates with Luis Castillo from 2017-2021. Manager Scott Servais said they were very vocal about adding Castillo to the team and advocating for a trade for Luis. I know it's a lot but that is the story of how a failed Yankees trade in 2003 led to the Seattle Mariners acquiring the best SP on the 2022 trade market.

Astros still kicking ass!

Oh my god. That was one of the most complicated and hard to follow trade trees yet. Wow. I had to rewind like twice 😂😂 Damn that was well explained. Good job!

Love these kinds of stories. Well done.

I have a butterfly effect scenario I want you to cover. It's about how Duaner Sanchez not getting room service in 2006 prevented the Mets from drafting Mike Trout.

This was such a reach and way too long just for the ending to be “Mike Fiers snitched”

Johan Santana's trade to the Mets led to the Padres getting Soto Johan Santana was traded for Carlos Gómez among others J.J. Hardy was traded for Carlos Gómez in 2009 Hardy in 2010 was traded to the Orioles Manny Machado came up with the Orioles, moves to 3rd base because Hardy was at shortstop Machado signed a massive contract with the Padres because of his career success at 3rd base Machado is married to Yonder Alonso's sister, she took a picture of Soto and Machado standing next to each other at the all-star game and sent it to Yonder Yonder sent it to AJ Preller saying how good of a one-two combo it would be Preller trades for Soto

Not sure losing a game is "rock bottom"

This is the worst thing Jeff Luhnow ever did. Absolute disgrace.

Man the Astros just live in everyone’s heads, don’t they? Can’t stop talking about tHe ChEaTiNG aStRoS.

Yes I’ve been waiting for you to talk about this one

Another butterfly effect is the Mariners signing of Robinson Cano allowed them to sign Luis Castillo long term

Surely this video clears up that the Astros were the scapegoat, right… right?

Awesome job with putting this video together, it must’ve taken a lot of research🙏

I'll never forget watching the "Flores is traded" game and thinking, they couldn't trade Familia?

About making a trade video of this years trades from astros. Cause josh bell look like he might be an astro soon just a rumors for dont know how good he actually is but he might replace yuli gurreil from astros as a trade couldn't spell his name right ? Great content by the way love the vids

I was also emotional over this trade, I still miss watching Wilmer in NY

why are people still crying about the astros

I initially clicked on the video to point out your thumbnail features Altuve, who didn't participate in the sign stealing, but yeah. That was a really well-researched and explained video. Have a like... but also stop trying to make 'Tuve the poster boy of the cheating...

A lot of these names are a trip to hear after the 2022 trade deadline

Shit took so long to get to the point almost fell asleep..

The Wizards' trading of Ben Wallace to Orlando for Ike Austin led to the Malice at the Palace.

Great video. Just earned a subscription. Look forward to see more content

If I remember right Gomez was drafted by the Mets and sent to Minnesota as a part of the Johan Santana trade.

this was the longest most convoluted video to get to cover one topic.

This was supposed to be a story about astro cheating scandal, it isn’t it’s just a number of disjointed trades that add up to shit.

I think a really good butterfly effect to look at is the aftermath of the 2006 orange bowl between the university of louisville and wake forest. it really is fascinating how the events after that game got uofl into the acc, and it had nothing to do directly with uofl winning that game. it leads up to uofl vs uconn football in 2007 being the thing in my opinion that set the stage for the acc to invite uofl to the conference in 2014. and on the reverse side I would argue that if petrino doesn't leave for the nfl, the big east football conference still exists because it has 3 pretty strong nationally ranked teams.

Almost every roster move has some kind of butterfly affect to some degree. Crazy to fathom but even something simple like a starter getting sent down creates ripples through the farm system. Interesting concept. Nice vid!

One thing I don’t get about this video. How can “Reds’ Justin Wilson: Traded go Cincinnati”? How can one be traded to the same team?

Anybody else hear Matpat from game theory

Watching this less than 30 minutes after the Brewers traded Hader hurt my soul

I hated the old Mets front office. It’s so much better now

This isa misleading video Astros were only mentioned like 3 times

Idk if this has been covered but there was the classic A-Rod to Yankees, Red Sox win 4 World Series

the brett phillips play wasn't really infamous it's just famous

I mean it says in the mlbtr article that you showed nick franklin WAS a mariner and traded to the RAYS.

I mean this met story/team is fun. But I don’t get how it correlates to the Astros fully

Fiers is also the guy who broke Stanton’s jaw.

Mets are an interesting franchise...they don't win as much as the Braves or the Yankees, but when they are good they always have a huge story surrounding them. We'll see how this season ends with them in first.

As a Brewer fan, I can't quite jibe with the notion that Carlos was a premier outfielder. He was an entertaining character though, no doubt about it.

Hader was just traded