While most of the trade rumors and discussion points on sports talk radio have centered around teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies and Washington Nationals, a surprise team has quietly been very active on the phones.
After trading for Juan Uribe Kelly Johnson and Tyler Clippard, the Mets have now acquired outfielder Carlos Gomez, which was first reported by MLB Network's Joel Sherman.
The Mets already had an outstanding rotation and back end of the bullpen. The Mets' hold the fifth-best earned run average in baseball (3.39), a number that was only going to improve with Clippard as a set-up man. A Jacob deGrom and Matt Harvey duo can headline a playoff rotation, with Jon Niese and Noah Syndergaard providing excellent options as a No.3 and 4 starter.
You can't have pitching alone in the postseason and the Mets rank last in runs (353). This team needed a jolt for their lineup and Gomez can provide exactly that. While his .268 average isn't what some fans expect from a big time center fielder, his .284 in 2013 and 2014 are what the Mets think a change of scenery can bring out of him. In the past two seasons, Gomez hit 24 home runs in 2013 and 23 home runs in 2014. The 29-year-old center fielder returns to the organization that signed him as a 16-year-old in 2002 as an international free agent.
Of course making this type of deal comes at a cost and the Mets had to send 25-year-old Zack Wheeler to the Brewers. Wheeler started 32 games last season, compiling a 3.54 ERA, 133 WHIP and 187 strikeouts in 185 1/3 innings pitched.
He showed plenty of promise in 2014 but was forced to undergo Tommy John surgery in March and isn't expected back until midway through the 2016 season. While TJS was seen as putting careers in jeopardy years ago, the success rate has greatly increased with many pitchers returning from the surgery and remaining excellent pitchers. Milwaukee will await full medical reports from their doctors but if they give the green light, this is a done deal.
Milwaukee also receives 23-year-old shortstop Wilmer Flores, whose reaction has now become widespread on Twitter. While the deal is believed to be completed, Flores remained in the game and could be seen on camera tearing up.
Flores was hitting .249 this season with a lowly .281 on-base percentage, but has 10 home runs and 40 RBI's in 338 at bats. His calling card is certainly not his defense but his ability to hit for power and play multiple positions. Flores power can certainly play very well at Miller Park.
Fantasy Impact:
The fantasy impact meter comes for the two position players as Wheeler won't be back until the 2016 season. Gomez could see a drop in home runs, with the transition from Miller Park to Citi Field. Miller Park led all of baseball in home runs per game at 1.91 versus Citi Field's 1.268. But Gomez was having a down year and a change of scenery to a contending team could help give him a little extra drive to turn things around.
Flores is the most intriguing to me, especially with the possibility he could play third base for the Brewers and pick up that eligibility. Eligibility at shortstop, second base and third base along with the added possibility at more home runs in Miller Park makes Flores worth picking up as a depth infielder for your fantasy team.
UPDATE: 10:56 PM EST
Mets General Manager Sandy Alderson jsut came out and told the New York Media there is no trade and there will be no trade. So Flores' will likely be in the lineup tomorrow, Gomez remains in Milwaukee and baseball general managers infuriate writers.
This is almost certainly the cause for the trade falling apart.