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Mets' Sandy Alderson Named Baseball America's Executive Of The Year

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Mets general manager Sandy Alderson has been named Executive of the Year by Baseball America.

In 2015, the Amazins recorded their first winning season (90-72) since 2008 and won their first division title since 2006.

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The Mets also advanced to their first World Series since 2000. After beating the favored Dodgers and Cubs in the National League playoffs, New York lost to the Royals in the Fall Classic in five games.

Alderson transformed the Mets in the summer and made a splash on the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline. On July 27 he traded for veterans Juan Uribe and Kelly Johnson.

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Four days later, the GM acquired slugger Yoenis Cespedes from the Tigers.

The Mets got red hot in the final months of the season and passed the Nationals for first place in the NL East. Their offense, which was one of the worst in baseball in the first half, quickly became one of the most productive.

Alderson also shored up the bullpen, adding right-handers Tyler Clippard and Addison Reed.

"Sandy is the best leader I've ever been around," Mets special assistant J.P. Ricciardi said, according to ESPN.com's Adam Rubin. "He lets you do your job. He respects you. And he wants your input. In the world today, his 'yes' means yes and his 'no' means no. That's one of the best things about him. He's always in the forefront. He's not afraid to take arrows. He's just a great leader.

KALLET: SANDY FOOLED ALL OF US 

"He brought a whole different mindset to the game. Being a baseball guy, he really educated me a lot. He really forced me to stop and think, 'Why does this work? Why does that work?' He's made me a better baseball guy. He's shaped a lot of people. He doesn't get the credit he deserves for the way analytics has come into the game. But he's not just an analytics guy.

"He really values the scouting and the thought process behind how things are put together. He's probably the most well-rounded guy who is in the game today. I love the guy."

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