Editing New York Mets (section)

====1998====
{{Main|1998 New York Mets season}}
The Mets season in 1998 began with an unforgettable opening day game at [[Shea Stadium]] on March 31 against their [[Mets–Phillies rivalry|division rival]] [[Philadelphia Phillies]], marking the first time that a regular season baseball game was played in New York in March.<ref>{{cite news|title=Mets Take An Opener For the Ages|date=April 1, 1998|first=George|last=Vecsey|newspaper=The New York Times|page=C1|author-link=George Vecsey}}</ref> Both of them were involved in the longest scoreless opening day game in the National League and the longest one in the MLB since 1926 when the [[Washington Senators (1901–1960)|Washington Senators]] beat the [[Philadelphia Athletics]] 1–0 in 15 innings.<ref>{{cite news|title=For Openers, Zilch Phils Fall in 14th Without a Run|date=April 1, 1998|first=Jim|last=Salisbury|newspaper=Philadelphia Inquirer|page=E1}}</ref><ref name=1998OpeningDay>{{cite news|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B04E5D71E3BF932A35757C0A96E958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print|title=A Midsummer Classic in March as Mets Nip Phillies|date=April 1, 1998|first=Jason|last=Diamos|newspaper=The New York Times|page=C1}}</ref> The Mets won the game 1–0 in 14 innings when backup catcher [[Alberto Castillo (catcher)|Alberto Castillo]] delivered a full-count, two-out, pinch-hit single to right with the bases loaded off Philadelphia closer [[Ricky Bottalico]].<ref name=1998OpeningDay/>

During the season, the Mets acquired [[Mike Piazza]] in a blockbuster trade that immediately brought star power and credibility to the Mets that had been lacking in recent years.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/who-won-mike-piazza-trade-mets-marlins|title=24 years ago, Mets got Piazza, But did they win the trade?|last=Harrigan|first=Thomas|date=May 21, 2023|website=[[MLB.com]]|publisher=[[MLB Advanced Media]]|access-date=December 18, 2023}}</ref>

After the Piazza trade, the Mets played well, but missed the 1998 postseason by only one game. With five games left in the [[1998 Major League Baseball season|season]], the Mets could not win a single game against both the [[1998 Montreal Expos season|Montreal Expos]] at home and the [[1998 Atlanta Braves season|Atlanta Braves]] on the road.Following the 1998 season the Mets re-signed Mike Piazza to a seven-year, $91 million contract, the Mets traded Todd Hundley to the Los Angeles Dodgers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/10/25/sports/baseball-mets-agree-make-piazza-baseball-s-richest-player-leiter-says-he-close.html|title=Baseball; The Mets Agree to Make Piazza Baseball's Richest Player; Leiter Says He's Close to a $32 Million Deal|last=Diamos|first=Jason|date=October 25, 1998|website=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=December 18, 2023}}</ref> Trades netted the Mets Roger Cedeño, Armando Benítez, and the Mets signed free agents [[Robin Ventura]], [[Rickey Henderson]], and [[Bobby Bonilla]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mets-welcome-rickey-henderson/|title=Mets Welcome Rickey Henderson|date=December 21, 1998|website=[[CBS News]]|access-date=December 18, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/12/02/sports/baseball-mets-get-benitez-and-near-ventura-deal.html|title=Baseball; Mets Get Benítez and Near Ventura Deal|last=Olney|first=Buster|date=December 2, 1998|website=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=December 18, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazinavenue.com/2012/1/4/2680955/who-let-bobby-bonilla-return-to-the-mets-in-1998|title=Who let Bobby Bonilla Return to the Mets in 1998?|last=Artus|first=Matthew|date=January 4, 2012|website=Amazin Avenue|access-date=December 18, 2023}}</ref>