Previous rumors suggested New York Mets' general manager Sandy Alderson was done with the "heavy lifting" on the trade market, but the latest find he's not done making significant additions to the MLB roster.
It's clear New York is still in need of a middle-of-the-order bat and that's exactly what Alderson is scouring the market for.
"And the Mets might not be finished yet," Marc Carig of Newsday wrote yesterday. "A team source told Newsday on Monday that the club will continue to explore the market for another offensive upgrade."
Jon Heyman of CBS Sports confirmed that earlier today.
"The Mets have enhanced their inconsistent offense with the additions of Juan Uribe and Kelly Johnson but still have their sights clearly on a big bat, with Justin Upton, Carlos Gonzalez, Carlos Gomez, Gerardo Parra and Jay Bruce among the better targets," he wrote.
"The Mets, now only a game out of first place in the NL East, seem focused on offense now after the addition of reliever Tyler Clippard."
Let's take a look at each of these candidates and see how far the Mets' interest extends.
Justin Upton
Heyman notes in his article that the Mets and Padres were at an "impasse" regarding the prospects that would change hands, but the teams have not ruled out "rekindling talks." San Diego asked for one or two prospects (at least one high-end prospect) in return and declined to pay any of the remaining money on Upton's contract, which the Mets didn't agree with.
Whatever the case, things will likely change over the next two days and the Padres may have to take what they can get after Upton's poor showing in June and July.
Carlos Gonzalez
His teammate, Troy Tulowitzki was traded yesterday and it was said the Colorado Rockies were prepared to deal Gonzalez. (Here are our top destinations for him if he's traded.) However, ESPN's Jerry Crasnick reports the team may wait to move him in the offseason because his bat is on fire and he's under contract through 2017, which dramatically increases his value to the point where teams may not want to budge.
However, the Rockies may not want to wait because the injury-prone outfielder could cost them significant talent in a potential trade if he were to get injured between now and the offseason. The Mets have prospects that would entice the Rockies (and they have the money somewhere, Fred Wilpon is just hiding it), but it depends what general manager Jeff Bridich is asking for and if he's willing to cover of any of CarGo's salary.
Carlos Gomez
As for CarGo Jr., the Milwaukee Brewers might not even move him. A rival executive told FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal that he doesn't think the Brewers are looking to trade the outfielder because the price is "VERY" high due to him being controllable through 2016, and the exec believes that indicates they might be hoping to get blown away with an offer.
And while Mike Puma of the New York Post noted there has been "much recent talk" between the Mets and Brewers, it's believed those discussions are more focused around Gomez's teammate, Gerardo Parra, who would cost significantly less in a trade and might be more up Alderson's alley.
Gomez began his career with the Mets' organization when he signed as an amateur free agent in 2002, so don't rule out a reunion if New York is keen on making a drastic upgrade.
And here's the latest update:
At this hour, Mets pushing very hard for Carlos Gomez, source says...
— Tim Brown (@TBrownYahoo) July 29, 2015
The Mets agreed to a deal with the Brewers that would send Gomez to New York and Zack Wheeler and Wilmer Flores to Milwaukee, but the Mets were uncomfortable with Gomez's medicals and backed out of the trade.
Gerardo Parra
We just mentioned him, and here's the quick 411 on the outfielder: he can play all three outfield positions; he's batting .324 and has an OPS of .883; he's under a reasonable salary for this season (just over $6 million); and he'll be a free agent after 2015.
It's also been said the Brewers are trying to trade him harder than they are Gomez, likely because there's a demand for left-handed hitting outfielders. The Orioles are also interested and Heyman says there's another "mystery team" involved, which could be the Royals, Blue Jays or Twins.
Jay Bruce
Bruce is among the many who could be part of the Cincinnati Reds' fire sale, which is already underway after Sunday's trade of Johnny Cueto. Bruce is also under control through 2016, but is owed $12.5 million next year and that could dissuade New York.
However, Rosenthal said over the weekend that the Mets talked to the Reds about a Zack Wheeler-for-Bruce deal, but nothing came of it and there are no active talks between the two clubs as of right now, according to Andy Martino and Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News.
Another potential suitor for Bruce was the Los Angeles Angels, but they acquired three outfielders on Monday and Tuesday, so it's likely they're out of the running for the slugger. That could open the door for the Mets.
Based on these reports it seems as if Alderson is poised to make one more notable move to push the Mets further into contention as they sit one game behind the Washington Nationals for the NL East lead. Keep these names in mind over the next two days.
