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Two years ago, a computer programmer in Cambridge, England calculated that the least eventful day in history since the start of the 20th century was April 11, 1954. Your humble chronicler of Mets history isn't savvy enough to build an algorithm that proves it definitively, but there's a good chance December 22 is the most boring date in the 50-plus years of the franchise.
No Mets player, manager, or coach has been born on December 22. The team didn't even complete a transaction on this date until 1992. Twenty years ago today, GM Al Harazin signed pitchers Tom Filer and Mauro Gozzo, infielder Steve Springer, and outfielder Wayne Housie. Of the lot, Gozzo contributed the most, appearing in 10 during the 1993 season and making eight starts in '94 prior to the truncated end of the strike year.
Fiver years later, the Mets made the only trade they've completed on this date in 1997, sending Carl Everett to the Astros for reliever John Hudek. One of five Houston representatives at the 1994 midsummer classic, Hudek struggled with injuries and his control after his All-Star campaign. Everett, meanwhile, needed a fresh start after butting heads (not literally) with Mets doctors and New York's Administration for Children's Services following a incident with the outfielder's two kids. On the field at least, Everett benefitted from the change of scenery, making two All-Star teams after the deal, while Hudek continued to struggle and was flipped to the Reds the following summer for professional pinch hitter Lenny Harris.
The December 22 action has picked up as of late, however. Omar Minaya inked two Amazin' Avenue favorites in back-to-back years on this date. In 2004, he signed Ramon Castro, who served as the team's backup catcher for four and half years despite frequently being better offensively and defensively than the backstops he was understudying. Coincidentally, the best transaction to occur on December 22 happens to be the most recent. Seven years ago (already?), Endy Chavez rejoined the Mets as a free agent. In announcing the signing, Omar Minaya said:
Chavez is an athletic player with excellent defensive skills in all three outfield positions.