As of this writing, Mets players, fans and media were reeling from one of the most bizarre and tumultuous weeks in the history of the franchise. Two modest trades and one big one that fell through amid drama and mystery, an inexplicable second PED suspension for Jenry Mejia, a three-homer game for Lucas Duda, another turd of an outing for Bartolo Colon, Tommy John surgery for Jack Leathersich, a 4-for-4 night for the young rookie Michael Conforto, and a third consecutive blown save by the previously lights out closer Jeurys Familia.
Now rumors are swirling and beat writers are scrambling to figure out just what the hell happened with the almost Zack Wheeler and Wilmer Flores for Carlos Gomez deal and just what does GM Sandy Alderson have up his sleeve as the clock ticks down toward today’s trade deadline.
Hips, elbows and tears
For a brief moment, Mets fans were super all geeked about adding what could be the missing piece for our first legitimate playoff run since Dubya was still in office. We were trading an injured pitcher and a flawed young player for an all-star centerfielder with speed, power and a gold glove. The only person more excited than Mets fans and Terry Collins about landing the former Mets top prospect might have been former GM Omar Minaya who drafted, touted and then traded Gomez in the blockbuster deal that brought us Johan Santana.
Gomez was the perfect get that many of us were hoping to land. He could play center and allow Juan Lagares to rest his elbow or take the rest of the season off to get Tommy John surgery. He could bat leadoff and push the hot-hitting Curtis Granderson toward the middle of the batting order. He could bat third and give us the middle of the order RBI threat from the right side we’ve been missing all season without David Wright.
Alas, like Mejia’s post-suspension scoreless outings, it was too good to be true. “We had to exchange medical information,” Brewers GM Doug Melvin told MLB.com, “and there was a certain discomfort that didn’t allow the deal to get done.”
Per the collective bargaining agreement, teams cannot view detailed medical histories of opposing players until the structure of a deal is in place. According to early reports, Milwaukee nixed the deal based on medical reports on Zach Wheeler and his comeback from elbow surgery. As more information became available, it seemed that it was the Mets who pulled the plug, citing a hip issue, a condition that Gomez, agent Scott Boras and Melvin all vehemently deny exists.
“I don’t believe Carlos Gomez has a physical issue,” Melvin told the NY Post’s Joel Sherman. “Our training staff won best in baseball the last two years. We take a lot of pride in that. We don’t think anything is wrong with him besides any nick that happens to any ballplayer.” Apparentlu, the Houston Astros had no medical concerns with Gomez either and promptly scooped him up, along with pitcher Mike Fiers for a package of prospects.
According to at least source, the real issue was not health concerns, but rather finances. The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel ‘s Tom Haudricourt reported that a source revealed that initial trade was to include Lagares, but the Brewers were hesitant because of his elbow issue. The story added that the revised trade of Wheeler and Flores for Gomez was kaboshed by the Mets who were insisting on either cash considerations or a 2016 competitive balance draft pick, which Milwaukee declined to include. It was at that point that the Mets backed out, citing Gomez’s hip as the reason.
This stinks on so many levels. We may never know what really happened. Was it financial pressure from ownership or legitimate concerns about Gomez’s health? Why didn’t the previous deal for Gerardo Parra go through? And who leaked the story – a Mets source? A Brewers source? An agent? That all has to be put in the rearview for now as the biggest question is whether Alderson will regroup in time to pull of another deal for a bat before the deadline. “It’s not Friday yet,” he said in typical coy fashion.
After letting a key game get away against San Diego, the Mets have a huge series at home against the division leading Nationals. With home field advantage and a dream series pitching matchup of Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard for the Mets and no Max Scherzer or Steven Strasburg for the Nationals. A sweep would put the Mets in a first place tie. If only their GM would make a big move at the 11th hour to energize them. Your move, Mr. Alderson.
Still available to the highest bidder:
Gerardo Parra (.326/.367/.517)
Jay Bruce (.257/.341/.486)
Justin Upton (.252/.328/.435)
Yoenis Cespedes (.293/.323/.506)
Will Venable (.250/.318/.388)
The argument about financials makes no sense. Next year, Gomez will make $2 million less than what Bartolo Colon is making this year. Salaries actually go down next year per his contract. And this year, the unexpected second suspension of Mejia will free up money.
Finally, as you yourself pointed out, the deal had to have been in place when the medical data was shared. If there had been a monetary issue, it would never have gotten to the point where they shared medical data.
A very nice summation Matt.
Bruce appears to be close and in 2015 I would rather have Bruce instead of Conforto in left for a pennant drive. The Mets could sort out the excess this winter.
If it falls through them the other options are:
Cespedes and Upton would be too steep a prospect price for a rental. Byrd could come much cheaper as would R Davis. Venable may not be much of an upgrade over a revitalized Kirk .
If Castro’s stock keeps tumbling then I would make a play for him because of his age. It would be a calculated risk.
Adding another reliever would also be prudent with Mejia suspended.
I forgot the Mets have Cuddyer (wishful thinking ?) so Byrd or Davis makes no sense.
The Cuddyer situation is excruciating. Sure, he’s making a fortune, but he sucks. I’d be happier to see a left to right OF of Granny, JL/KN, Bruce.
Rajai Davis has played CF 38 times this year. Byrd has played there a couple of games this year and has also played there in Citi Field. Granderson is an ex-CF. None of these are ideal solutions but they might be an improvement over what we have now, depending on what you think of Nieuwenhuis.
Two weeks ago, there was nothing but celebration that the Mets pen boasted 3 closers. Today we do not have a single one. After the Bruce deal is done, I get AJP on the blower and get Kimbrel in NY, and I mean Queens. If it costs pitching, so be it. We have plenty. Familia is a bust. Parnell is a bust. Mejia was busted. Clippard was a good get, and right now the only person likely to be capable of saving a game come Sept. That’s not enough.
Bruce is the wrong guy IMO. This isn’t Yankee stadium where it pays to shoehorn 3 power lefties into a lineup. I’d rather get Ben Revere who’s cheaper, plays center, bats leadoff and brings some speed back to the offense.
The more I read into this the more I think Melvin walked out out of the room after Sandy kept pushing for more. Not sure if it came from ownership or Sandy but the Gomez deal should have gotten done. And we blew it with Parra too who just went to the O’s for one prospect. I really hope this doesnt wind up being the turning point of the season
Revere to Jays
As far as Cuddyer is concerned he’s not meant to be playing OF every day at his age and with his injury history. Mets were too cheap to bring in a solid 4th OF in the offseason and it’s been hurting them all year.
The only way Sandy and the Mets don’t look bad is if Gomez’s hip explodes between now and the end of the season. I haven’t trusted the evaluations of the Mets’ medical staff in a long time, and for the past few years the Astros have been one of the smartest organizations in baseball. Sandy blew this one.
The Mets history in evaluating injury and preventing injury is a league-wide laugher. How often have we witnessed a little nagging this or that turn into tommy john, or spinal stenosis, or capsule tear. Quite frankly, the mets medical staff ought to be replaced for gross incompetence. Good thing Cuddyer just has a little “owwie” on his knee, he’s fine, a day or two off, but no DL…wait, check that…a short DL, but that killer bat will be right back in the line up…wait…oh shit..never mind.
Cespedes is a nice consolation prize. Although a rental, he fills a huge void for now and we didnt give up much. Relieved we didn’t get Bruce.
Matt the card up his sleeve was the ” aCE of CeSpades”.
We should have known it all along !