While the Cleveland Indians just reached the World Series with some unexpected wizardry, it was their first dominant squad of the ’90s that could make you think of the Mets. At least as a business model.
When general manager John Hart took over the club, he found himself blessed with a gaggle of burgeoning stars, like Manny Ramirez, Jim Thome and Charles Nagy. And rather than sweat out arbitration hearings, which often turn into ugly jousts over small amounts of money — like the recent spat between the Yankees and reliever Dellin Betances — leaving bruised egos and strained friendships, Hart began to secure his young studs for far more than they were entitled, yet far less than they would have bagged on the open market.