 Pitching rich in , Anderson was left off the Mets' postseason roster and was only able to celebrate their eventual World Series championship as a spectator on the bench.On 27 March 1987, Anderson traded to the Kansas City Royals, along with Mets backup catcher Ed Hearn and minor league pitcher Mauro Gozzo for future star pitcher David Cone and minor league outfielder Chris Jelic.In retrospect, with the all-star career of Cone and the journeyman careers of Anderson, Hearn, and Gozzo, this trade is often listed as one of the most lopsided in major league history.