New York Mets’ bungled trade a sign of the times
By Tim Haberin
It was one of the more bizarre scenes in recent baseball memory, and perhaps one of the strangest we will see for a while. New York Mets shortstop Wilmer Flores had apparently been traded in a deal for Brewers outfielder Carlos Gomez, but for some reason was not being removed from the game. He stood at his usual spot in the infield, obviously overcome with emotion at the news, in open view of a Citi Field crowd – and a much larger television audience. We’re used to seeing players make poignant farewells in the dugout upon being informed about a deal, but this was something far more uncomfortable and somewhat surreal.
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The tears were all for naught, however, as the Mets had nixed the proposed exchange before the night was over. Under the supposed parameters of the trade, New York would have sent starting pitcher Zack Wheeler (currently recovering from Tommy John surgery) and Flores to Milwaukee for Gomez, who played his rookie year with the Mets in 2007 before being shipped to Minnesota in the Johan Santana deal.
The reason for the transaction’s collapse? Medical records. While most initially assumed that the player of concern was Wheeler, it was later reported that the Mets were worried about an issue with Gomez’s hip.
Agent Scott Boras, always eager to provide a quote to the media, staunchly came to his client’s defense:
"“He’s in first-class physical condition without issue. We monitor our players closely. If there was ever an issue with him, we would have him seen by experts in a particular area. He has not been seen by any outside physicians this year. Other than a hamstring issue, he’s been in great physical health. He plans on playing in the big leagues for the next 15 years.”"
It indeed seemed an odd and unexpected reason for the Mets to back out of the deal, especially when it had been so widely reported as being all but completed. After the Mets finished their game against the Padres, GM Sandy Alderson addressed the situation by blunting stating, “There is no trade.” He proceeded to blame over-anxious social media for jumping the gun on the deal.
Social media platforms such as Twitter have undoubtedly transformed the way sports are covered. Insiders and writers across the nation jockey for scoops in a perpetual race to be the first to deliver a piece of news to thousands of online followers. We essentially watch trades unfold in real-time. Updates are sent out as quickly as possible, and accuracy often suffers as a result. The “throw everything at the wall and hope something sticks” strategy is increasingly in vogue.
Yet it seems unsurprising in a way that the Mets of all teams are at the center of this awkward situation. They don’t exactly have the best track record of evaluating injuries this season. In a city with a fervent will to win, the team’s leadership seems to continuously find new ways to confound its fanbase.
The planned trade could have also have really helped the Mets, who are still in serious need of some offensive firepower. Gomez hasn’t been having a particularly great season by his standards, slashing .262/.328/.423 with eight homers and 43 RBI. But he belted 66 long balls over the previous three seasons and made consecutive All-Star teams in 2013-2014. Perhaps moving to a division race in the Big Apple could have sparked his bat. And though Wheeler is a promising pitcher, the Mets could have afforded to move him with all the powerful young arms already in their rotation.
Only the Mets brass itself knows if they were genuinely concerned about Gomez’s health or if other factors (his salary?) caused them to have second thoughts. In any case, the team has a great opportunity in front of itself, with the Nationals only two games ahead in the NL East and looking vulnerable. They upgraded their infield with the additions of Juan Uribe and Kelly Johnson, but they will likely need more to remain a legitimate threat.
The Mets have been linked to other prominent outfield bats ahead of the trade deadline, such as Justin Upton, Carlos Gonzalez and Jay Bruce. Time will tell if they are still able to nab one. Could they even revisit the Gomez deal with Milwaukee before Friday afternoon? Crazier things have happened, especially in the Mets’ world.