It might be hard to believe, but the Marlins have been a Major League baseball team for over 31 years. After Sunday's Mets win, they have a 279-237 all-time record against them. However, before the teams even played their first game against each other, they were already connected when Miami (or Florida, at the time) chose pitcher José Martínez with their second pick (fourth overall) in the 1992 expansion draft. Two rounds later, the Marlins took another Mets youngster, Chris Donnells.
In all, there have been 90 different players who have played for both of these teams, including multiple all-stars, a 500 home run hitter, and a member of the Hall of Fame.
In this week's edition of The 5, we'll take a look at the 5 best players who have played for both teams. The catch (no pun intended) is that they had to have played well for both teams. So even though Mike Piazza will forever be considered one of the best players to wear a Mets uniform, the 5 games he played for the Marlins are just a tiny anecdote on his career resume. Similarly, while Gary Sheffield did hit the final 10 of his 509 career home runs with the Mets, he didn't impact the 2009 team enough during his short stay to warrant consideration for this list.
Best Players to Play for the Mets and the Marlins
5. Jose Reyes - Mets 2003-2008, 2016-2018; Marlins 2012
When Jose Reyes came up to the Mets in 2003, he brought with him a good deal of talent, pressure, and expectations. Despite some troubles staying healthy in his first couple seasons, by 2005 he began to live up to his promise, and by the time his first go-round with the Mets was done in 2011, he was a 4-time All-Star, 3-time NL stolen base leader, 4-time NL triples leader, and the first Mets player to lead the National League in batting average. When the Marlins signed him away from the Mets prior to the 2012 season, it was a move that was expected to change the respective faces of each team. That year, Reyes stole 40 bases for the first time since 2008, and led the National League in plate appearances with 716. While his season in Miami was deemed a success, he was part of an unexpected 12-player trade to the Toronto Blue Jays. A few years later, Reyes made his return to Flushing during the 2016 season. While age, injuries, and wear & tear, prevented him from being the star he once had been, he still contributed to the team, and was even a bright spot during the Mets disappointing 2017 campaign.
4. Armando Benitez - Mets 1999-2003; Marlins 2004, 2007
While Armando Benitez's Mets career may conjure up memories of shortcomings in big moments, it's important to remember that he was an integral part of what got the team to those big moments in the first place. After the Mets fell short of making the postseason in 1998, they made a series of moves on December 1st that they hoped would upgrade the team enough to continue playing the following October. First, they traded catcher Todd Hundley and minor league pitcher Arnold Gooch to Los Angeles for Roger Cedeno and Charles Johnson. Incidentally, Johnson the Marlins first draft pick in the 1992 expansion draft, however he doesn't make this list because he never actually played for the Mets. Instead, later that day, the Mets traded Johnson to Baltimore for closer Armando Benitez.
Up to that point, Benitez had shown the ability to throw hard, and had some success in a brief stint as the Orioles fireman. He continued that success with the Mets in 1999 and did, indeed, help them reach the postseason. A year later, he set the Mets record for saves in a season with 41. The year after that, he increased that record to 43. By the time his Mets tenure was done, Benitez had an All-Star appearance, 3 postseason saves, and 160 total Mets saves, the second most in franchise history. In 2004, Benitez signed with the Marlins about 5 weeks before pitchers and catchers reported to spring training. That year, Benitez set the Marlins record for saves in a season with 47.
3. Cliff Floyd - Mets, 2003-2006; Marlins, 1997-2002
Outfielder Cliff Floyd was drafted out of high school by the Montreal Expos in the first round of the 1991 draft. After playing sporadically for the Expos from 1993-1996, he was acquired by the Marlins for Dustin Hermanson and Joe Orsulak shortly before opening day. In 5+ seasons with the Marlins, Floyd reached the potential that earned him that first round pick distinction. He played for a World Series winner (1997), had a 31-home run, 103-RBI All-Star season (2001), and became one of the most prolific hitters in franchise history.
Even though Floyd's injury troubles cloud his Mets tenure, he was still incredibly productive when he played, most notably in 2005. That season, Cliff Floyd had 34 home runs, 98 RBIs, and even garnered a few MVP votes.
2. Al Leiter - Mets, 1998-2004; Marlins, 1996-1997, 2005
When the Mets obtained Al Leiter from the Marlins prior to the 1998 season, it marked a significant shift in the NL East hierarchy. The Marlins were just coming off their first World Series championship in franchise history, and the Mets were looking for payoff from their years-long rebuild.
While Leiter ony pitched in Miami for two seasons, he had many noteworthy achievements: his first All-Star game appearance, the first no-hitter in Marlins history (which also included the first 3-pitch inning in any no-hitter in MLB history), and a World Series championship. In fact, Leiter was the starting pitcher in Game 7 of the series, earning a no decision in the game.
So when he came to the Mets, he was instantly the most accomplished pitcher on the team. Fortunately for New York, his skills didn't diminish. While with the Mets he had the best statistical season in his career (1998), made another All-Star team (2000), had a 200 strikeout season (2000), and received the Roberto Clemente award (2000). In 2002, Leiter became the first pitcher in MLB history to defeat all 30 teams in his career. While Leiter started 220 games for the Mets, including the postseason, there is one game in particular for which he is most celebrated. At the end of the 1999 season, the Mets were tied with the Cincinnati Reds for the wild card spot. The two teams played a one-game tiebreaker in Cincinnati, with Leiter taking the hill for the Mets. He pitched a complete game 2-hit shutout, in a 5-0 Mets victory, sending them to the posteason for the first time since 1988.
1. Carlos Delgado - Mets, 2006-2009; Marlins, 2005
One of the most overlooked players of his era, Carlos Delgado accomplished plenty in a short time with each team. In 2005, after 12 seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays, Delgado signed a 4-year deal with the Marlins. His first season in the National League proved no different from his time in the American League as he batted .301 with 41 doubles, 33 home runs, 115 RBIs, and finished sixth in NL MVP voting. Following that season, the Marlins held one a fire sale (as they have been known to do), and traded Delgado to the Mets for three prospects.
For the Mets, Delgado led the team in home runs in 2006, had two separate 100+ RBI-seasons (114 in 2006, 115 in 2008), and received NL MVP votes in two seasons (2006 and 2008). In 2006, Delgado played in his only postseason, batting .351 with 4 home runs, 11 RBIs, and a 1.199 OPS between the NLDS (vs. Los Angeles) and the NLCS (vs. St. Louis). Delgado also reached a couple memorable milestones while with the Mets: his 400th career home run (a grand slam!), and his 2000th career hit. Additionally, on June 27, 2008, Delgado set a Mets record with 9 RBIs in a game, in a 15-6 victory over the Yankees.
There are two current Mets players who have played for the Marlins: Starling Marte and Cole Sulser. Time will tell if they will add their names to a future "The 5" list of greatest players to play for both teams.
Please share some memories of these players, or suggest any players that we may have missed, in the comments below.
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