Fueled by social media, word quickly spread through Citi Field in the middle of the game about the trade, which would have sent Flores and teammate Zack Wheeler to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for Carlos Gomez.
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What appears to have happened is that the two sides agreed to a trade during the game. The Brewers will receive four prospects: outfielders Brett Phillips and Domingo Santana, left-hander Josh Hader and right-hander Adrian Houser from Houston.
Nevertheless, thinking that he’d be leaving New York, Flores teared up right on the field.
“Unfortunately, social media, et cetera got ahead of the facts”, Alderson said. “It’s a little odd that Wilmer’s still in the game”, the rumour seemed a certainty but had an adverse effect. Afterward, manager Terry Collins said he was baffled by the emotion shown by Flores, having no idea a swap was in the works. New York had turned down a trade for Hamels when the Phillies asked for two of their top prospects in Luis Severino and Aaron Judge. For what? I didn’t know. I feel awful for Wilmer. But a problem surfaced in one of the player’s medicals – sources told Fox Sports that the Mets backed out due to concern over a hip issue with Gomez, an issue that his agent, Scott Boras, says does not exist.
Gomez was traded from Milwaukee to Houston on Thursday, after the Mets nixed a deal with the Brewers for the veteran outfielder a night earlier. Now Mets GM Sandy Alderson has clarified their stand saying, “It’s very simple”. Alderson previously said team doctors felt the health risk was too great.
“I know nothing about what happened with the Mets”, he said. “I’ve just got to get ready to play”. “That’s what our fans want”.
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Houston is in win-now mode, a refreshing change after three straight 100-loss seasons and a 90-plus loss season previous year. “And we’re taking advantage of it”. With a healthy Springer, the Astros will have a starting lineup with several bats ranging from capable (Gattis, Lowrie) to All-Star caliber (Altuve, Gomez, Springer) to potentially transcendent (Correa). Adding Gomez will only help their chances of putting some distance between themselves and the Angels, as the 29-year-old has put up a slash line of.262/.328/.423 this season with 8 home runs, 42 runs scored, 43 stolen bases and outstanding defense in center. Collins said he believes the 23-year-old will recover from the unusual near-trade and reassured him that he is wanted by many teams, including the Mets, because he is a good player.
