The season had already gotten off to an embarrassing start for GM Frank Cashen and the Mets before it even started. Believing that it was unnecessary to protect a high-salaried, forty-year-old pitcher, the Mets left Tom Seaver unprotected and the Mets were stunned on January 20, 1984 when he was claimed in a free-agent compensation draft by the Chicago White Sox.
This left opening day duties to Mike Torrez. Torrez lasted only 1.1 innings against the Cincinnati Reds at Riverfront Stadium, giving up six earned runs, and giving the Mets their first opening day loss since 1974. Davey Johnson's team did, however, come back to win the next six in a row, including Dwight Gooden's Major League Baseball debut on April 7.[5] Off-season acquisition Sid Fernandez made his debut with the Mets on July 16, going seven innings against the Houston Astros at the Astrodome, and earning the victory.
July 10, 1984: Heathcliff Slocumb was signed by the Mets as an amateur free agent.[9]
August 28, 1984: The Mets traded players to be named later to the Houston Astros for Ray Knight. The Mets completed the deal by sending Gerald Young and Manuel Lee to the Astros on August 31 and Mitch Cook (minors) to the Astros on September 10.[10]
August 28, 1984: Jeff Gardner was signed as an amateur free agent by the Mets.[11]
September 30, 1984: Jerry Martin was released by the New York Mets.[4]