On 8/8/1997 -- standings linked above -- the Mets traded SP Mark Clark, CF Lance Johnson, and UT/SS Manny Alexander to the Cubs (who were well out of the race) for RP Turk Wendell, RP Mel Rojas, and CF Brian McRae. At the time, the Mets were 6.5 games behind Atlanta and 2 games behind Florida, and in third place in the NL overall. I recall the trade being the Mets "White Flag" that year -- a sign they were looking forward, and not looking toward winning in 1997. But is there any evidence that I"m right?