Mo Vaughn - New York Mets

New York Mets

With the Mets, Vaughn was counted upon to be a key catalyst in a revamped lineup that featured imports Roger Cedeño, Jeromy Burnitz, and Roberto Alomar. Vaughn got off to a slow start in 2002, was lampooned in local papers and on sports talk radio shows, and was clearly not in the same shape he was during his signature seasons in Boston - he weighed 268 pounds during his first season in New York. A late surge after the all star break that saw him hit one of the most prodigious home runs in Shea Stadium history (in the middle of the "Bud" Sign on the monstrous Shea scoreboard) on July 28 was one of the few highlights in a mostly disastrous season for Vaughn. However, in 2002, he hit his 300th career home run on April 3, against Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Kip Wells, and a game winning three-run home run in the 8th inning of a game on June 16 that gave the Mets a 3-2 win over the Yankees.

Looking for a comeback in 2003, he played less than a month in 2003 before a knee injury ended the season for him.

The decision to acquire Vaughn was solely that of then-Mets G.M. Steve Phillips. Vaughn had missed the entire 2001 season due to injury, but when the opportunity to acquire Vaughn presented itself, Phillips and a contingent of Mets' brass (including then-manager Bobby Valentine) descended upon a small batting cage in Connecticut to see Vaughn hit off a tee. Phillips, convinced that Vaughn could immediately enter the Mets' overhauled lineup and contribute without regard to his injury recovery, sent pitcher Kevin Appier (who had arguably been the Mets' most consistent starter in 2001) to the Angels in exchange for the rights to Vaughn. The trade would eventually be a contributing factor to Phillips' firing as general manager.