- Tom Seaver has the most bWAR of any Mets player.
- Darryl Strawberry has the highest OPS+ in franchise history.
- John Franco’s 276 saves are by far the most of any Met.
Since their first season in 1962, plenty of iconic players have put on a Mets jersey. There’s lots of competition when trying to whittle the best New York Mets players of all time down to five.
How much does team success matter? How do I balance longevity against short-term, peak performance? It wasn’t easy picking just five players for these rankings, but here are my five greatest Mets players ever.
Best New York Mets Players of All Time
| Rank | Player | Position | Mets Years |
| 1 | Tom Seaver | Starting Pitcher | 1967-1977, 1983 |
| 2 | Darryl Strawberry | Right Fielder | 1983-1990 |
| 3 | Jacob deGrom | Starting Pitcher | 2014-2022 |
| 4 | David Wright | Third Baseman | 2004-2018 |
| 5 | Carlos Beltran | Center Fielder | 2005-2011 |
1. Tom Seaver
With almost 30 bWAR more than any other Met, there was no debate over who took the No. 1 spot in these rankings. Tom Seaver won Rookie of the Year, a World Series in 1969 that defied all MLB odds that season, and three Cy Young awards on his way to the Hall of Fame.
Second in ERA+, and first in shutouts, innings pitched, adjusted pitching runs, and win probability added, Seaver was a true ace throughout his time in New York. Only 21 players in MLB history have compiled more bWAR.
2. Darryl Strawberry
Darryl Strawberry might lag behind some long-serving Mets when it comes to counting stats, but his rate numbers were phenomenal. Strawberry’s 145 OPS+ is the best of any Met, plus he’s the franchise leader in homers and intentional walks while ranking fifth in stolen bases.
The first of 2⃣5⃣2⃣! HBD to our all-time home run king, Darryl Strawberry! 👑 pic.twitter.com/IHNKoQ3IEW
— New York Mets (@Mets) March 12, 2019
Add in All-Star selections in all eight years in New York and two top-three MVP finishes, and Strawberry’s extended peak is enough to put him second in these rankings.
3. Jacob deGrom
Just four different Mets have won the Cy Young. Jacob deGrom went back-to-back in 2018 and 2019, and his 155 ERA+ is by far the best in franchise history. Only Nolan Ryan and Sid Fernandez conceded fewer hits per nine.
The numbers speak for themselves. DeGrom was not far off a third Cy Young in 2020, and he posted an outrageous 1.08 ERA in 2021 before injury ended his campaign.
4. David Wright
Second to Seaver in bWAR and with comfortably the most of any position player, some would place David Wright higher than fourth. While Wright was an elite player at his peak, he’s only fifth in OPS+ and injuries cut his career short.
From his first big league hit to his postseason heroics, take a look back at some of David Wright’s career highlights on his birthday.
5️⃣ ➡️ https://t.co/ZnEoruFqgc pic.twitter.com/eJs222N89w
— New York Mets (@Mets) December 20, 2019
Ultimately, Wright didn’t have quite the elite production of Strawberry, and his shortened career meant his counting stats were not impressive enough to put him any higher than fourth.
5. Carlos Beltran
Carlos Beltran spent only six-and-a-half seasons as a Met, but that doesn’t stop him being ranked seventh in franchise bWAR. He was an All-Star in five of those campaigns.
Beltran’s 129 OPS+ was the best he posted with any team and tied for seventh in franchise history. A trio of Gold Gloves, 100 stolen bases and 129 homers round out an impressive Mets resume for the Manati native.