In the wake of Jose Reyes leaving the Mets in 2011 to take a $100 million deal to join the Marlins, the Mets turned to Ruben Tejada to start at shortstop. Tejada struggled, leaving Sandy Alderson to lean on veterans like Omar Quintanilla as he searched the free agent and trade markets for an everyday middle infielder.
If you recall, there were countless posts on every New York news site under the sun pointing to connections between the Mets and Mariners, as well as the Mets and D-backs, who were reportedly looking to deal 24-year-old SS Didi Gregorius.