What if Cruz Was One of Us?

[G-Fafif]

I had absolutely no idea Nelson Cruz was once in the Met system, signed at age 17:

February 17, 1998: Signed by the New York Mets as an amateur free agent. August 30, 2000: Traded by the New York Mets to the Oakland Athletics for Jorge Velandia.

His minor league experience from 1998 to 2000 is listed by Baseball Reference as "Dominican," and they have no stats for him. It wasn't a big deal when he was traded away for a not very big player.

Meanwhile, in a roster development, the Mets have acquired the infielder Jorge Velandia from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for the minor league outfielder Nelson Cruz. Velandia, 25, hit .125 for the Athletics in 18 games this season and .283 for Class AAA Sacramento, and Phillips said that he would likely be called up to the Mets when the season ends at Class AAA Norfolk.

I'd love to hold this against Steve Phillips (as opposed to what Steve Phillips loves to hold against certain young ladies) but Cruz steered clear of the majors until 2005 and didn't break out until 2009.

Still, we did have him. And Phillips evaluated his potential so effectively that he traded him for Jorge Velandia.

[Guest Edgy DC]

[blindly optimisitic thinking]That's exactly the type of deal I expect Sandy Alderson to not make.[/blindly optimisitic thinking]

[Guest Edgy DC]

By the way, scouted by Omar Minaya.

[G-Fafif]

The GM who made it on the other side was Billy Beane, described as Alderson's protege. The A's gave Cruz four years to prove he was more than Jorge Velandia. He seemed to have put it together (statistically, anyway) in 2004, and was then shipped to the Brewers for another exciting infielder, Keith Ginter. One pretty good minor league season and one Milwaukee cup of coffee later, Cruz was off to a contending Texas club with Carlos Lee in a deadline salary dump (Lee's) for, among others, Francisco Cordero and Laynce Nix, two guys who helped beat the Mets as Reds in 2010 (though Cordero also gave up a game-winning HR to Rod Barajas).

Three organizations weren't sold on Nelson Cruz. The fourth is in the World Series this year.

Not the same route to glory, exactly, but Cruz having been a Met long before he broke through reminds me of learning Paul Blair had been a Met farmhand in 1962. He was drafted by the Orioles the following winter (in the "first-year draft") and went onto win eight Gold Gloves...but he was outshined defensively by Tommie Agee when it really counted, so we'll let it pass.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I seem to recall that deal being one of those that you wouldn't kill Phillips for, since Velandia as I recall was said to have a good chance to be a useful middle infield backup, and lord knows we needed those. It's a shame we dragged the rotting corpses of Bordick and Kurt F. Abbott to the 2000 world series instead of him.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Seems like the wise GM finds those guys on waiver wires and in Rule V draft pools though. Or trades an albatross of their own for him. Ramon Martinez (FA), Justin Turner (waiver), Joaquin Arias (for a lame-duck Francoeur), and Wilson Valdez ($$) --- none of them are worth much more hope than Velandia, but none of them cost anybody the Mets were still trying to see about.

I mean, I won't kill Phillips for it, but it wasn't the sort of thing I would say I was philosphically for. Spare parts should be gotten off the spare parts pile. The A's (counting Billy Taylor also) seem to have done a good job convincing Phillips they had a corner on that market.

[Frayed Knot]

It just kind of keeps with the Phillips philosophy that only the best prospects were worth protecting and anyone else not on the verge of helping the major league club were just chips to be swapped according to need without a second thought. No distinction ever seemed to be made among those type of lower-level kids as to which ones were more likely to maybe break through one day. More often than not you'll get away without getting burned by those deals but not paying attention to the progress of Jason Bay cost them and various stories (later confirmed by then-Jays assistant Keith Law) had Phillips offering up the Single-A version of David Wright.

[G-Fafif]

Exclusive and obsessive Faith and Fear research has revealed Nelson Cruz is one of ten former Mets minor leaguers who never played for the Mets but eventually reached the World Series. Read about Nelson and the Other Nine (if you like) here.

If you have anybody else that will make me slap my palm to my forehead, please let me know and I will addendumize. Thanks.

[Gwreck]

Quilvio Veras, member of the 1998 National League Champion San Diego Padres.

I would've guessed Kevin Tapani but after checking, he threw 7 innings for the Mets before leaving in the Viola trade.

[G-Fafif]

Gwreck wrote: Quilvio Veras, member of the 1998 National League Champion San Diego Padres. I would've guessed Kevin Tapani but after checking, he threw 7 innings for the Mets before leaving in the Viola trade.

Good one! I had Veras on an ancillary list of those who made the postseason but not the World Series (one that encompasses the likes of Jody Davis, Lloyd McClendon, Heathcliff Slocumb, and a few others) but blanked on the '98 WS...much as the Padres did. Will amend -- thanks.