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A look at the pitchers who have pitched for both the Yankees and Mets.
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Background
Pitchers who have had the opportunity to play for both the Yankees and Mets are very few and far between. In most cases, it is because they were either drafted or signed by one team and then traded to the other, or they became free agents and signed with the other team. In either case, it is very rare for a pitcher to have the opportunity to play for both teams.
A brief history of the Yankees-Mets rivalry
The New York Yankees and the New York Mets are two of the most iconic baseball teams in America. They both play in New York City, and they have a long-standing rivalry that dates back to the early days of the sport.
The Yankees are one of the original eight American League teams, and they have been playing baseball since 1903. The Mets, on the other hand, did not join Major League Baseball until 1962. The Mets were formed as an expansion team, and they quickly became one of the most successful teams in baseball.
The Yankees and Mets have been playing each other since their first seasons in the league. The Yankees have always been one of the most successful teams in baseball, while the Mets have had their ups and downs. But regardless of their records, the two teams always put on a good show when they play each other.
The Yankees and Mets have met in the World Series twice, with the Yankees winning both times. But even though the Yankees have had more success overall, there is no doubt that the Mets have given them a run for their money over the years.
The rivalry between these two teams is one of the most heated in all of sports. Whenever they play each other, it is always a must-see event.
Notable pitchers who have pitched for both teams
As of 2019, there have been 46 pitchers who have had the distinction of playing for both the New York Yankees and the New York Mets. This includes pitchers who were traded from one team to the other, as well as free agents who signed with one team after playing for the other. Let’s take a look at some of the more notable pitchers who have played for both teams.
Dave Eiland
Dave Eiland is a retired right-handed pitcher who played in MLB for the New York Yankees, Kansas City Royals, and Milwaukee Brewers.
Eiland was selected by the Yankees in the 26th round of the 1987 amateur draft. He made his MLB debut on August 16, 1991, with the Yankees. He pitched for the Yankees from 1991 to 1995 and again from 1998 to 1999. He was traded to the Royals in 1995 and pitched for them from 1996 to 1997. He signed with the Brewers in 2000 and pitched for them until his retirement in 2002.
In his 11-year MLB career, Eiland had a win-loss record of 61–48, an earned run average (ERA) of 4.35, and 775 strikeouts.
Al Leiter
Al Leiter is one of the most accomplished pitchers in the history of both the Yankees and Mets. He pitched for the Yankees from 1987 to 1989 and for the Mets from 1998 to 2004. In his career, Leiter pitched in two World Series and was a two-time All-Star. He is also one of only four pitchers to have pitched a no-hitter for both teams.
Ron Darling
Ron Darling is a former MLB pitcher who played for both the New York Yankees and the New York Mets. He was drafted by the Yankees in 1981 and made his MLB debut with the team in 1984. He pitched for the Yankees for four seasons before being traded to the Mets in 1988. He pitched for the Mets for nine seasons, helping the team win the World Series in 1986. He retired from MLB in 1995.
Dwight Gooden
Dwight Gooden, nicknamed “Dr. K”, is a former MLB pitcher who pitched for the New York Mets from 1984 to 1994 and for the Yankees from 1996 to 1997. Gooden was one of the most dominant pitchers in the National League during his time with the Mets, winning the 1985 Rookie of the Year Award and the 1986 National League Cy Young Award. He was also a member of the Mets’ 1986 World Series-winning team. After struggling with substance abuse and injuries, Gooden made a comeback with the Yankees in 1996, helping them win the World Series that year.
Why some pitchers choose to switch teams
Pitching for both the Yankees and the Mets can be a difficult decision for any pitcher. There are many reasons why a pitcher may want to switch teams, but the most common reason is for a change of scenery. Many pitchers feel that they need a new start, or a new team to help them get their career back on track.
Better opportunity for playing time
There are a number of factors that can lead a pitcher to switch teams, but one of the most common is the opportunity for more playing time. When a pitcher is stuck on a team with a deep bullpen, they may not have many chances to get into games. This can be frustrating for a pitcher who feels like they have the ability to contribute but isn’t getting the opportunity to show what they can do.
It’s not just about playing time, though. Pitchers also want to be in a situation where they feel like they have a chance to win. On a team with a strong lineup and good starting pitching, a reliever may feel like their chances of getting into the playoffs and winning a World Series are much higher. This can be especially true if a pitcher has already won a championship with one team and wants to try and do it again with another.
Finally, pitchers may also switch teams because of money. If two teams are interested in a free agent pitcher, the player may choose to sign with the team that offers them the most money. This isn’t always the case, though. Some pitchers may take less money to play for a team they feel has a better chance of winning or is closer to their home.
More money
For many professional athletes, team loyalty is everything. They’ll play for the same team their entire career, even if it means taking a pay cut to stay with a contender. But for some players, switching teams is simply a matter of business. When it comes to free agent pitchers, it’s not uncommon to see them move from one team to another in search of the biggest contract. And when those teams happen to be the New York Yankees and the Mets, it can make for some interesting headlines.
In recent years, there have been a number of high-profile pitchers who have switched from the Yankees to the Mets, or vice versa. In most cases, it’s simply a matter of following the money. The Yankees are one of the richest teams in baseball, and they’re usually willing to spend whatever it takes to get the best players. The Mets, on the other hand, are often more cost-conscious. They’re not afraid to spend money on players, but they’re not always willing to match the Yankees’ offers.
For pitchers who are looking for a big payday, signing with the Yankees is often seen as the best option. But there are also some drawbacks to pitching in New York. The media scrutiny is intense, and the pressure to win is always high. So while more money may be available in New York, there’s also more pressure to perform.
In recent years, there have been a number of high-profile pitchers who have switched from the Yankees to the Mets, or vice versa. In most cases, it’s simply a matter of following the money
Personal preference
For some pitchers, their choice to switch teams is simply a matter of personal preference. Some may feel more comfortable pitching for one team over another, or they may believe that they have a better chance of success on another team. In other cases, pitchers may feel that they can add more value to a different team, or that they would be able to contribute to a team’s success in a different role.
How pitchers fare after switching teams
It’s not uncommon for pitchers to switch teams during their careers. In fact, there have been many cases of pitchers playing for both the Yankees and Mets. Let’s take a look at how these pitchers have fared after making the switch.
Dave Eiland
Dave Eiland is one of the pitchers who have pitched for both the Yankees and Mets. He was drafted by the Yankees in 1987 and made his major league debut with them in 1991. He pitched for the Yankees until he was traded to the Mets in 1996. Eiland pitched for the Mets until 1998, when he was traded back to the Yankees. He pitched for the Yankees until 1999, when he was released. Eiland then pitched for various minor league teams until he retired in 2004.
Al Leiter
Al Leiter was the first player to ever pitch for both the Yankees and Mets in the same season, doing so in 1998.
Leiter began his career with the Yankees in 1987. He pitched for them until he was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays in 1989. He then pitched for the Mets from 1998 until 2004, when he was traded back to the Yankees.
In his career, Leiter pitched for six different teams. He won a World Series with the Yankees in 1996 and with the Marlins in 1997.
Ron Darling
Ron Darling was drafted by the Mets in 1981 and made his MLB debut with the team in 1983. He remained with the Mets until 1991, when he was traded to the Montreal Expos. Darling pitched for the Expos for two seasons before being traded back to the Mets in 1993. He finished his career with the Mets in 1995.
Dwight Gooden
Dwight Gooden debuted with the Mets in 1984 at the age of 19. He quickly became one of the best pitchers in baseball, winning the National League Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Award in his first two seasons. Gooden continued to pitch well for the Mets over the next few years, but his career was derailed by drug and alcohol abuse. He was traded to the Yankees in 1996 and pitched reasonably well for them over the next two seasons, but his best days were clearly behind him.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there have been a total of 33 pitchers who have had the distinction of pitching for both the Yankees and Mets. The most recent pitcher to join this list is reliever Dellin Betances, who was traded from the Yankees to the Mets in 2019. While Betances is the only active player on this list, there are several other notable pitchers, including future Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez and World Series MVP Curt Schilling.
