We may never know what exactly caused the Carlos Gomez trade to fall apart Wednesday night, but we can at least throw another theory out there. Some reports are saying that the Mets backed out because of money.
To recap the situation, reporters said Wednesday that the Mets had acquired Gomez from the Brewers for Wilmer Flores and Zack Wheeler. The trade later fell through, and Mets GM Sandy Alderson said the team would not be acquiring Gomez. Some reports said the Mets had concern over Gomez’s hip and backed out because of medicals. Other reports say the Mets wanted the Brewers to pay part of Gomez’s salary and backed out when Milwaukee said no.
From Ken Rosenthal:
#Mets also asked #Brewers about getting comp pick and/or cash in deal. MIL said no. Deal was agreed to, pending medicals. #Mets backed out.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 30, 2015
Both Rosenthal and the New York Post’s Joel Sherman say the Mets wanted the Brewers to take Juan Lagares off their hands rather than Flores because Lagares is owed a lot of money in the future.
#Mets asked #Brewers during process to take Lagares rather than Flores to wash some $. Milw didn't want future dollars. Wanted Flores for 3b
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) July 30, 2015
Though the two sides ultimately agreed to a deal, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Tom Haudricourt says the Mets called off the deal. Haudricourt intimates that the Mets used the medicals as an escape because they had financial concerns over the trade.
The source said the Brewers then were asked to put some money in the trade to cover part of what’s remaining on Gomez’s contract, including a $9 million salary next year. Considering the talent level of Gomez and his reasonable contract, the Brewers understandably declined to put any cash into the deal.
It was only then, according to the source, that the Mets came back and said they were calling off the deal because of concerns over Gomez’s medical records, which was their right all along. Any team can call off a deal over medical concerns before it becomes official.
Keep in mind that all sides have their reasons for trying to blame others for the failure of the trade. The Brewers want Gomez to appear healthy so that they can trade him for a return; Gomez’s agent Scott Boras doesn’t want anyone thinking his client is damaged goods for when free agency comes around after next season; and the Mets don’t want anyone thinking they are cheap.
