What once seemed like a minor trade has now become a glaring mistake for the New York Mets — and a massive win for the Cincinnati Reds.
In 2022, the Mets acquired veteran outfielder Tyler Naquin from Cincinnati in exchange for two relatively unknown prospects: outfielder Héctor Rodríguez and right-hander Jose Acuña. At the time, the deal barely made headlines. But in 2025, the results are undeniable — and Mets fans are left shaking their heads at former GM Billy Eppler.
Naquin struggled in New York, hitting just .203 before leaving in free agency. Meanwhile, Rodríguez has blossomed into one of the Reds’ brightest young stars. Currently tearing up Double-A with a .447/.480/.660 slash line and a 12-game hitting streak, he was just named Southern League Player of the Week after slashing .522 with an OPS of 1.411. Acuña is also thriving, posting a 2.25 ERA with 30 strikeouts in 24 innings.
The success of these two young players has cemented the trade as one of the most lopsided deals of the 2022 deadline. It also further tarnishes the legacy of Eppler, who was later suspended by MLB and replaced by David Stearns.
While Mets fans reflect on what could have been, the Reds are celebrating a savvy front-office move that helped accelerate their rebuild — and might soon pay off at the Major League level.
