First a Batting Champion, Next a Cy Young Winner Depart Flushing In their half century of existence, the Mets have made their fair share of history: Most losses in a season, for instance, and two memorable World Series wins. Until last year, they were also one of the few teams never to have thrown a no-hitter. Once the deal to send R.A. Dickey to Toronto is finalized, the Mets will carve out another piece of history: They will become the first team to lose a batting champion and a Cy Young Award winner in back to back seasons, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Oh, and Dickey also led the National League in strikeouts, innings pitched, complete games and shutouts in 2012. In a twist, Jose Reyes, who won the National League batting title in 2011, and Dickey, who became the first knuckleballer to win the Cy Young Award, appear on the verge of reuniting in Canada. Reyes was traded to the Blue Jays a few weeks ago and a deal that would send Dickey to Toronto for a grab bag of prospects is pending the negotiating of a contract extension for Dickey. While Sandy Alderson, the Mets' general manager, has compelling intellectual reasons for not keeping Reyes and Dickey, many of the team's frustrated fans will recall that both players liked New York and at least said that they wanted to remain in Flushing. Plenty of teams have torn apart winning teams. The Oakland A's of the 1970s and the Florida Marlins come to mind. But the Mets have not won anything in years and Reyes and Dickey were among the few reasons to root for the team. In fact, their departures are more reminiscent of the bloodletting of M. Donald Grant, who shipped off Tom Seaver, Dave Kingman and other popular players who had the temerity to speak their minds and play well. It will take some time to determine whether Alderson's strategy pays off. The Mets have been very determined to save money. Indeed, they lopped about $50 million off this year's payroll. The team paid Oliver Perez, Luis Castillo and Jason Bay to leave, and they traded Francisco Rodriguez and Carlos Beltran before they became free agents. In shedding these big contracts, many fans assumed the Mets would use the savings to sign other stars and stockpile young talent in their farm system. Yet other than signing David Wright and Jon Niese to contract extensions, Alderson has not made many meaningful signings. Frank Francisco, for instance, has been a bust in the bullpen, despite receiving a two-year deal. Zach Wheeler, obtained for Beltran, has been a welcome addition. But Alderson miscalculated the value of the draft-pick the Mets would receive when Reyes signed with the Marlins. Instead of getting their first-round draft pick, the Mets received the Marlins' third-round pick instead. The array of prospects that the Mets are expected to get in return for Dickey could pan out. Travis d'Arnaud is a former first round draft pick and could be the Mets' catcher of the future. Dickey's knuckleball could fall flat in the tough American League East. But given how popular he and Reyes were with fans, the Mets would do well to promote their return the next time the Blue Jays visit Flushing. As one frustrated Mets fan snidely noted, they might also warn their remaining players to keep a bag packed in case they win any awards.