The New York Mets have been very active in the last week as the non-waiver trade deadline nears. Their search for offense targeted a big bat, and earlier Wednesday night, they reportedly landed Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Carlos Gomez in exchange for Zach Wheeler and Wilmer Flores, per Andy Martino and Joel Sherman of the New York Daily News.
But now, that deal is reportedly off. Mets general manager Sandy Alderson told reporters after the game the reported trade was off.
Alderson said trade "has not and will not transpire."
— Marc Carig (@MarcCarig) July 30, 2015
Most logical explanation is that #Brewers were uncomfortable with Wheeler’s medical coming off Tommy John. Players were agreed upon.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 30, 2015
Was told players agreed upon in #Mets deal with #Brewers. Gomez for Wilmer/Wheeler. Alderson says now no deal.
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) July 30, 2015
Gomez's camp was told a trade was done pending physicals. I assume the physicals were not approved. #Brewers #Mets
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) July 30, 2015
New York manager Terry Collins was angry that news leaked in the first place, especially with Flores still in the game at shortstop. Flores was seeing crying at his position after he learned of the deal.
Wheeler is recovering from Tommy John surgery but there were conflicting reports that his medicals were the cause for the deal to go south. Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel said Wheeler's medical reports were the reason, but Andy Martino said specifically Wheeler was not the cause for the deal dying.
A hip issue with Gomez was the cause for the Mets to kill the deal, reported Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.
Gomez is hitting .262/.328/.423 with eight home runs and 20 doubles in 74 games this season for Milwaukee. The 29-year-old two-time All-Star averaged 22 home runs and 27 doubles per season from 2012-2014 while hitting .277/.336/.483, a 121 OPS+ during that span.
The Mets entered Wednesday last in the National League in runs per game (3.53) and OPS+ (85), hitting just .236/.300/.362 as a team, 14th among 15 NL teams in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage and OPS.
But built on strong pitching, the Mets also entered Wednesday just a game behind the Washington Nationals for first place in the National League East and have brought in reinforcements in recent days. The club traded for Juan Uribe and Kelly Johnson on Friday night, then on Monday, acquired relief pitcher Tyler Clippard from the Oakland Athletics.
The deadline to make trades without requiring players clearing waivers is 4 p.m. ET on Friday.