Toronto Blue Jays: The familiar faces in the NL East

New York Mets

The most notable former Blue Jay on the Mets is Marcus Stroman. He wore Toronto on his heart and embraced the city like almost no other athlete did. If there were fans permitted in the stands, he would definitely be given a standing ovation upon his return. He was traded just before the deadline last year for Anthony Kay and Simeon Woods Richardson.

A former member of the Tigers and Red Sox rotation, Rick Porcello is now a part of the Mets rotation after agreeing to a one-year deal in the offseason. He was the 2016 AL Cy Young recipient as a member of the Red Sox.

Appearing in just one game last year which plummeted his value in free agency, Dellin Betances was one of the most dominant relievers in the game as a member of the Yankees. He recorded 100+ strikeouts in five consecutive years and is a four-time all-star. The Mets brought him to Queens on a one-year deal attached with player options.

That’s not the only former AL East relievers in New York either. From 2014-2018, Brad Brach was a key reliever in the Orioles’ pen. While no longer as dominant as he used to be, he’s still a serviceable reliever that the Mets will rely on in their deep bullpen. The Mets picked him up off waivers last year after his release from the Cubs and signed him to another deal this offseason.

Despite not being in the AL East since 2013, Robinson Cano was a member of the Yankees for nine seasons and often came north of the border to play the Blue Jays. The Mets acquired him in a trade with the Mariners in the 2018 offseason.