The NY Mets are looking into a trade with Jay Bruce for pitcher Zack Wheeler with the Cincinnati Reds and this comes after the team backed out of a deal with the Brewers for Carlos Gomez and this could be the last major move for the team at the deadline and if the Bruce trade doens't work, reports have the Mets looking at Justin Upton, Will Venable and Yoenis Cespedes as options.
UPDATE: Yoenis Cespedes to the New York Mets. Zack Wheeler is reportedly not in the deal.
Check here for UPDATES on the deal. This post will be updated when deals are official.
The Mets have added Juan Uribe and Kelly Johnson to the mix along with Tyler Clippard and now they could look at adding Bruce. The team has been looking fort outfield help and they have also been linked to Justin Upton and had the trade with Gomez nearly go through. According to Hardball Talk, the deal with Bruce would be for Wheeler and it could take time for the Reds to look over medical records with Wheeler coming off of Tommy John surgery.
The team reportedly is looking at other outfielders and Adam Rubin reports talks with the Reds have slowed. UPDATE: players like Justin Upton, R. Davis, Will Venable, Ben Revere and Cespedes could be on the radar for the Mets over Bruce. UPDATE: "Jon Heyman @JonHeymanCBS mets are making a push for yoenis cespedes. would be big move."
Jeff Passan reports that the "focus" for the Mets is on Bruce, but that "rental" outfielders are also "still in play" for the team. Bruce is signed into next season for over $12 million and he has an option in 2017 for $13 million. If the Mets aren't worried about money, and they say they aren't, this would be a solid deal. The team backed out of the Brewers deal due to the medical records of Gomez, although the Astros had no problem and added the outfielder.
Bruce comes in hitting decent this season with a .257 batting average and 17 home runs and he would be a nice upgrade for the Mets. Wheeler is a top prospect and while he had surgery, he is expected to be back next year. The Mets picked up Wheeler in a deal with the Giants a couple years ago for Carlos Beltran and they feel comfortable with their pitching depth if they trade him. Ken Rosenthal at Fox Sports reports that the Bruce deal with the Mets has the "expectation among many in industry is that deal will happen."
The Mets are right in the mix in the NL East and they are looking to stay in the playoffs race. Gomez is now with the Astros after that deal fell apart and now the team reportedly is "close" to the deal with Bruce. Wheeler could be back next summer after having Tommy John and he is one of the top prospects in the majors. The Mets have Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard as their top young pitchers. The team was also connected to Upton, but the Padres had been asking for too much and the Mets did not want to meet their price.
