MetsZone.net - Why did the New York Mets give away Nolan Ryan so early in his career?

Why did the New York Mets give away Nolan Ryan so early in his career?

The Mets missed out on most if not all of his no hitters. I also think they wouldn't have had so many bad seasons in the late 1970's.

Public Comments

One of the worst trades in Mets history. And the Mets have never had a no hitter.
Ala Scott Kazmir to the Rays for Victor Zambrano.....
Nobody in baseball had any idea what Nolan Ryan would end up doing. Nolan Ryan had great fire on his fastball, but his promise was just that - promise. The Mets were a team building to win in the present, not the future, and they were recently coming off a world championship in 1969. Holding on to a young Nolan Ryan who may turn into a star was just not an acceptable move for the Mets. They needed a third baseman, Jim Fergosi had received MVP votes every year from 63-70, he had been an all star in 64 and every year from 66-70 who could have predicted that he would fizzle out? And let's not forget, Nolan Ryan asked to be traded. If a player - even Nolan Ryan - doesn't want to be on your team, why keep him there? He'll just be a destructive force. Yes, even Nolan Ryan.
He wasn't what they thought he would be when they originally got him. The main reason they got rid of him is because he was very wild and inconsistent. Probably the dumbest move the mets ever made. The reason why people say the Kazmir trade was worse is because Victor Zambrano never played that much and Jim Fregosi who the Mets traded Nolan Ryan for actually played.
you have 2 good answers there. He was wild early in his career, and the Mets were building for the present (which NY teams often are). I have not researched this today, but I believe Ryan was sent back down to the minors for a full year just due to control issues after spending close to a full year in the majors
Nolan Ryan also was very unhappy playing in New York........he had wanted to be traded long before he was. Although everyone knew Ryan had an explosive fastball, he was no where near a top prospect like a Scott Kazmir was. Even though the trade ended up being horrendous for the Mets, it was far from a horrible scenario when the trade was made. Hindsight however can change everything.