The Mets have long needed to inject new, major league talent to the roster.
On Friday night, the Mets closed the deal on a trade which brought them Juan Uribe and Kelly Johnson in exchange for two minor league pitching prospects.
But apparently, they are not done shopping this summer.
Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reported earlier the Mets were attempting to negotiate a deal to acquire OF Justin Upton from the Padres, but the Mets balked when they learned San Diego GM AJ Preller was asking the Mets for two top prospects back for the soon-to-be free agent.
As such, Upton is not a realistic trade target, according to Mike Puma of the New York Post. Instead, Will Venable is a more likely scenario for the Mets.
But the Mets aren’t limiting themselves to Upton, as Sandy Alderson confirmed to reporters at Citi Field on Saturday the club is looking to make some, “big moves,” although no deal is close right now.
According to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, the Mets have inquired about other high profile players ahead of the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.
Rosenthal is reporting the Mets have renewed their interest in acquiring Rockies SS Troy Tulowitzki, although they came away with the impression the Rockies are not interested in dealing the star shortstop.
As it has been previously reported, the Mets have also expressed interest in A’s super-utility player Ben Zobrist, but have also inquired about RHP Tyler Clippard, according to Rosenthal, both of whom can be free agents at the end of the season.
But Rosenthal said the A’s expect to receive better offers than the Mets are currently willing to make for the two veterans.
According to Andy Martino of the Daily News, the Mets have shown a willingness to deal Brandon Nimmo, Gavin Cecchini or Michael Fulmer for Zobrist. But since the Mets are unwilling to deal any of their top shelf starting pitching currently in the big leagues, Martino says talks are at a stalemate right now.
But it doesn’t stop there, either.
The Daily News also reported the Mets would consider dealing Zack Wheeler in the right deal, and Rosenthal said the Mets tried to deal Wheeler to the Reds in exchange for OF Jay Bruce, but Rosenthal said those discussions went nowhere.
Lastly, while the Mets have been connected to Brewers OF and pending free agent Gerardo Parra, and, as Marc Carig of Newsday reported on Friday, the clubs were working on a deal into late Thursday before the Mets called up Michael Conforto, Rosenthal writes the Brewers believe they can do better than the pitching prospect the Mets were offering, considering demand is so high in the soon-to-be free agent outfielder.
In addition to these players, the Mets have been connected to Brewers OF Carlos Gomez this summer. Carig is also reporting the Mets have interest in Tigers OF Yoenis Cespedes, although, “nothing’s come of it.”
Just Mets 