The Chicago Cubs organization now features four former Mets between Taylor Teagarden, Gonzalez German German, Mike Baxter and Pedro Feliciano.
This season will be a homecoming of sorts if Taylor Teagarden makes the major league roster. Teagarden was drafted by the Cubs in 2002, went to college and then was drafted by the Rangers in 2005 (so I guess not really a homecoming situation if he makes the major league roster this year). In 2011 he was traded to the Orioles and signed as a free agent with the Mets last year playing in 9 games hitting .143 over 28 ABs. This off-season he signed a deal with the Cubs.
Gonzalez German German has had quite the off-season. He was traded to the Yankees from the Mets, then traded to the Rangers, then selected off waivers by the Cubs and finally cleared waivers with the Cubs making them his final stop this year. German was signed by the Mets in 2007 and has pitched at least 30 innings in the last two seasons in the majors with moderate success. Best of luck Gonzalez!
Baxter is a legend in New York. You already know why, you don’t need me to spell it out for you. In 2005 he was drafted by the Padres, the Mets claimed him in 2011, then he was claimed by the Dodgers in 2014 and signed as a free agent with the Cubs this season. I’m hoping he can break camp with the Cubs and make it back to Queens for a visit this year.
Finally there’s Pedro Feliciano. Perpetual Pedro was a rock in the Mets bullpen for several seasons, but bullpen mismanagement led to arm trouble that he never deserved. He was drafted in 1995, by the Dodgers, was granted free agency in 2011 when he signed with the Reds. He was then traded to the Mets in 2002, and claimed by the Tigers. They released him and he signed back with the Mets. It was also with the Mets where he finally made his major league debut. In 2005 he was purchased by a Japanese team and a year later he signed back with the Mets. In 2011 he signed with the Yankees, 2013 back with the Mets, 2014 with the Cardinals and now with the Cubs. Keep on pushing!
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!
