Spring Look at the 40-Man Roster

Each club’s 40-man roster is built over years of meticulous trades, draft picks, and free agent signings. As Opening Day nears, InsidePitchMagazine.com offers a rundown of the origins of each member on the 40-man roster.

Overall Statistics:

Number of Players on Roster [as of March 19, 2009: 36
Number Drafted by New York Mets^: 9
Number Signed as International Free Agents: 1
Number Acquired Through Trades*: 11
Number Signed as Major League Free Agents: 9
Number Signed as a Minor League Free Agent: 4
Number Claimed off Waivers: 1
Rule 5 Picks: 1
^ - Angel Pagan was originally drafted by the Mets and was later acquired via trade
* - Pedro Feliciano was originally traded for in 2002 and later resigned as a free agent


How They Got Here:

Pitchers:

Pedro Feliciano – 8/15/2002 – Acquired via trade from Cincinnati Reds along with players to be named later for Shawn Estes. 2/28/2006 – Signed as a free agent

Sean Green – 12/10/2008 – Acquired in trade from Seattle Mariners along with J.J. Putz and Jeremy Reed for RHP Maikel Cleto, 1B Mike Carp and OF Ezequiel Carrera

Brandon Knight – 7/26/2008 – Contract purchased by New York Mets

Eddie Kunz – 6/10/2007 – Drafted by New York Mets in the Amateur Draft – 1st supplemental round, 42nd pick overall

John Maine – 1/22/2006 – Acquired via trade from the Baltimore Orioles for RHP Jorge Julio

Carlos Muniz – 6/3/2003 – Drafted by the New York Mets in the Amateur Draft – 13th round, 379th overall

Jonathon Niese – 6/7/2005 – Drafted by the New York Mets in the Amateur Draft – 7th round, 209th overall

Fernando Nieve – 3/14/2009 – Claimed off waivers from the Houston Astros

Darren O’Day – 12/11/2008 – Selected by the New York Mets from the Los Angeles Angels in the Rule 5 Draft

Bobby Parnell – 6/7/2005 – Drafted by the New York Mets in the Amateur Draft – 9th round, 269th overall

Mike Pelfrey – 6/7/2005 – Drafted by the New York Mets in the Amateur Draft – 1st round, 9th overall

Oliver Perez – 7/31/2006 – Acquired via trade from the Pittsburgh Pirates with Roberto Hernandez for Xavier Nady

J.J. Putz – 12/10/2008 – Acquired in trade from Seattle Mariners along with Sean Green and Jeremy Reed for RHP Maikel Cleto, 1B Mike Carp and OF Ezequiel Carrera

Tim Redding – 1/9/09 - Signed as a minor league free agent (to a major league contract)

Connor Robertson – 12/12/2008 – Acquired via trade from the Arizona Diamondbacks for Scott Schoeneweis

Francisco Rodriguez – 12/9/08 – Signed as a Major League free agent

Johan Santana – 2/2/08 – Acquired via trade from the Minnesota Twins for minor leaguers Philip Humber, Kevin Mulvey, Deolis Guerra and Carlos Gomez

Brian Stokes – 11/28/07 – Contract purchased from the Tampa Bay Rays

Billy Wagner – 11/29/2005 – Signed as a Major League free agent

Catchers:

Robinson Cancel – 1/7/2008 – Signed as a minor league free agent

Ramon Castro – 12/15/2004 – Signed as a minor league free agent

Brian Schneider – 11/30/2007 – Acquired via trade from the Washington Nationals with Ryan Church for Lastings Milledge

Infielders:

Luis Castillo – 11/19/2007 – Signed as a Major League free agent

Alex Cora – 1/22/09 – Signed as a Major League free agent

Carlos Delgado – 11/24/2005 – Acquired via trade from the Florida Marlins for Mike Jacobs, Yusmeiro Petit and Grant Psomas

Jose Reyes – 8/16/1999 – Signed by the New York Mets as an international free agent

David Wright – 6/5/2001 – Drafted by the New York Mets in the Amateur Draft – 1st round, 38th overall

Outfielders:

Marlon Anderson – 7/12/2007 – Signed as a minor league free agent

Carlos Beltran – 1/13/2005 – Signed as a Major League free agent

Ryan Church – 11/30/2007 – Acquired via trade from the Washington Nationals with Brian Schneider for Lastings Milledge

Nick Evans – 6/7/2004 – Drafted by the New York Mets in the Amateur Draft – 5th round, 134 overall

Daniel Murphy – 6/6/2006 – Drafted by the New York Mets in the Amateur Draft – 13th round, 394th overall

Angel Pagan – 6/2/1999 – Drafted by the New York Mets in the Amateur Draft – 4th round, 136th overall – 1/5/2008 – Acquired via trade from the Chicago Cubs for Corey Coles and Ryan Meyers

Jeremy Reed – 12/10/2008 – Acquired in trade from Seattle Mariners along with J.J. Putz and Sean Green for RHP Maikel Cleto, 1B Mike Carp and OF Ezequiel Carrera

Cory Sullivan – 1/23/2009 – Signed as a Major League free agent

Fernando Tatis – 1/8/2008 – Signed as a minor league free agent