It was a bizarre, stunning and tear-filled night for the Mets, who agreed to a reported trade that would have sent Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Carlos Gomez to New York for potential front-end right-hander Zack Wheeler and developing infielder Wilmer Flores.
When Flores, back starting at shortstop in place of Ruben Tejada, came off the field in the middle innings of Wednesday night's game at Citi Field, he first learned from fans near the dugout that the Mets had agreed to trade him to Milwaukee.
The shaken Flores' ordeal was then played out on the SNY broadcast, and with tears in his eyes, he still took the field one inning later.
Mets Wilmer Flores crying on field, still playing even though he's been traded - Streamable http://t.co/W6q2dkATqK
— Víctor Tovar ® (@VictorTovar91) July 30, 2015
“I heard from the fans, there was this rumor I was going to get traded. The fans were yelling for me,” Flores said. “When I came up, I heard everyone cheering, and I thought that was the only reason.“It was difficult to be out there, but nothing happened. But that’s what they told me, there’s no deal.”
It wasn't long after the Flores tears and near-completion of the blockbuster deal that everything came to an embarrassing conclusion — the trade was off.
“[The trade] has not and will not transpire,” Mets general manager Sandy Alderson told reporters late Wednesday night.
Mets GM Sandy Alderson blames social media for Wilmer Flores crying during game. pic.twitter.com/O7ZnFrZFSf
— Jimmy Traina (@JimmyTraina) July 30, 2015
The glitch came when the Mets were going over Gomez’s medicals. He was on the disabled list in April and into May with a hamstring issue, and he missed time last month with an ailing hip. And the Mets didn't were uncomfortable with that.After a standing ovation for Flores by Mets fans in the seventh inning, injured Mets veterans David Wright and Michael Cuddyer followed Flores into the clubhouse before the game ended, thinking they were going to console a traded teammate.
