The new look Padres currently hold three former Mets players in their organization: Dale Thayer, Jose Valverde and Juan Carlos Gamboa.
Dale Thayer had a very short stint with the Mets in 2011 where he pitched 11 games and 10.1 innings with a 3.48 ERA. He was originally drafted in the 1999 draft by the Cubs, signed as a free agent with the Padres in 2002, was traded to the Rays in 2006, signed with the Mets in 2011 and then signed with the Padres before the 2012 season. Since then he became a crucial part of the Padres bullpen pitching 64, 69 and 70 games from 2012 on.
Jose Valverde also had a very short Mets stint last year. The veteran signed with the Mets last year, stepped up as a closer as Parnell went down with injury and was then dismissed with Farnsworth as neither really performed well for the Mets. Valverde put up a 5.66 ERA and signed as a free agent with Padres in January.
Juan Carlos Gamboa was drafted away from the Mets in the rule V draft. Despite the Mets need for a middle infielder, he didn’t quite cut it as someone that the Mets saw at short vs other internal options, so he was left unprotected.
This series of articles will take us across every organization in baseball and look for former Mets in the majors and minors to see how they are doing, leading up to a “Former Mets Team” to see how the current Mets stack up with pieces we have all over the place. I am still looking for Mets team members on the Pirates, Rangers, White Sox and Tigers. If you any, please let me know!
