August 27, 1992: The Mets Trade David Cone

August 27, 1992: The New York Mets trade pitcher David Cone to the Toronto Blue Jays for 2nd baseman Jeff Kent and a player to be named later, who, 5 days later, turned out to be outfielder Ryan Thompson.

Cone was going to be a free agent after the season, and Mets owners Nelson Doubleday and Fred Wilpon didn't think they could re-sign him. So they wanted to get something for him, and figured Kent and Thompson were good compensation.

It's easy to forget now that Cone wasn't yet a Met when they won the 1986 World Series. They got him from the Kansas City Royals during the following Spring Training. Well, with the Mets, he won the 1988 National League Eastern Division title... and that's it.

Afterward, he reached the postseason 6 times, winning the World Series 5 times: With the Jays in 1992, and with the Yankees in 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2000 -- against the Mets. Indeed, he was so successful with the Yankees, it's almost easy to forget he ever was a Met. He was 81-51 with them, 64-40 with the Yankees, for 125-91 in New York. Total: 194-126.

Thompson had yet to appear in a major league game. He made his debut 5 days later. In the strike-shortened 1994 season, he hit 18 home runs. Other than that, he didn't do much as a Met. Kent had some power, but provided little in the way of either wins or excitement. So the Mets let him go when he was 28, just moving into his prime. That turned out to be an even worse trade.

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August 27, 1992 was a Thursday. There were 5 games played in Major League Baseball that day. The Mets did not play. These teams did:

* The New York Yankees beat the Minnesota Twins, 5-0 at the Metrodome in Minneapolis. Mélido Pérez pitched a 6-hit shutout. Pat Kelly hit a home run. Don Mattingly appeared only as a defensive replacement.

* The Toronto Blue Mays beat the Milwaukee Brewers, 5-4 at the SkyDome (now the Rogers Centre) in Toronto. Robin Yount went 1-for-2 with 2 walks. Paul Molitor went 2-for-4. The next year would be Yount's last season, and Molitor would help the Jays win the World Series.

* The Kansas City Royals beat the Texas Rangers, 7-2 at Arlington Stadium in the Dallas suburb of Arlington, Texas. George Brett went 3-for-4 with 2 RBIs.

* The Houston Astros beat the St. Louis Cardinals, 5-1 at the Astrodome in Houston.

* The Seattle Mariners beat the Cleveland Indians, 6-2 at the Kingdome in Seattle. Ken Grffiey Jr. did not play. Both Cleveland runs came on solo home runs by Albert Belle.