a record he has tied twice. He went 8–12 with a 4.51 ERA and 160 strikeouts. He led the National League in home runs allowed and was second in hits allowed. In , Trachsel went 15–8 with an ERA of 4.46, 149 strikeouts and one complete game in 33 starts. On September 8, Trachsel allowed Mark McGwire's record breaking 62nd home run, breaking Roger Maris' longtime record of 61. McGwire hit the pitch 341 feet over the left field wall, his shortest of the year. McGwire went on to hit 70 home runs that year. Additionally, Trachsel was the starting and winning pitcher in the Cubs' 5–3 Wild Card tie-breaker game victory over the San Francisco Giants, giving up just one hit through six-plus innings. In , Trachsel's ERA rose to a career-worst 5.56; his 18 losses were two worse than any pitcher that season. He became a free agent after the season. Tampa Bay Devil Rays On January 14, 2000, Trachsel signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He began the season going 6–10 with a 4.58 ERA in 23 starts. Toronto Blue Jays On July 31, 2000, Trachsel was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays along with pitcher Mark Guthrie in exchange for minor league second baseman Brent Abernathy and a player to be named later. In 11 starts with Toronto, Trachsel was 2–5 with a 5.29 ERA. Combined between Tampa Bay and Toronto, he finished 8–15 with a 4.80 ERA in 34 starts. New York Mets On December 12, 2000, Trachsel agreed to a two-year, $7 million contract with the New York Mets. He got off to a poor start in (including becoming the only pitcher in Mets history to allow four home runs in one inning), and he was sent to the minor leagues on May 19. At the time, he had a 1–6 record and a 8.24 ERA. Upon returning to the Mets, his career was reborn. He finished 2001 with an 11–13 record and a 4.46 ERA in 28 starts. He continued to shine in , when he finished 11–11 and had a 3.37 ERA in 30 starts. After entering free agency again following the 2002 season, Trachsel re-signed with the Mets on a two-year, $8 million contract on December 7, 2002. His success continued as he finished 16–10 with a 3.78 ERA in 33 starts in . On