The draft was tricky for us this season. Really wanted to address a positional need and we chose 3B Darrell Evans with the No. 1 overall pick. However, we played hardball at the negotiations table and it was costly.
He was demanding $65K signing bonus, we offered slot, then went well above it to $60K. Evans turned it down, walked away and left us empty. We got a first-rounder in 1967 draft as compensation.
The same conclusion stamped a bitter negotiation with our 4th rounder choice, C Cliff Johnson, resulting on him walking away and us getting no comp pick.
In between, we drafted and signed LHP Dave LaRoche and OF Tom Grieve.
Mets traded 2B Vern Fuller to the Dodgers for a pair of minor leaguers, including C Jerry Grote. Our catching tandem in Triple A is Johnny Bench and Grote. Not bad.
With all that, Meet the 1967 New York Mets...
