Just Mets

For most of the last two months, the Mets have been linked in trade rumors for super utility player and pending free agent Ben Zobrist.

The Mets ultimately became genuinely interested in Zobrist, to the point the club would consider an above-market value deal for the super-utility player, Joel Sherman of the New York Post recently said.

But the Mets were only willing to deal RHP Rafael Montero to the A’s in exchange for Zobrist, according to Andy Martino of the Daily News, and A’s GM Billy Beane felt that to be an inadequate proposal.

So, the Mets instead acquired utility player Kelly Johnson along with Juan Uribe, which seemed to all but end the Mets pursuit of Zobrist, who on Tuesday was dealt to the Royals

Zobrist made a ton of sense to the Mets before they acquired Johnson. He can play three positions on the infield and two in the outfield, is a switch hitter with playoff experience with a little bit of pop.

But the A’s were able to net the Royals second best prospect in LHP Sean Manea. Its a steep price for an obvious rental, and the Mets clearly were not prepared to do something like that for a player of Zobrist’s ilk with his free agency looming.

Zobrist got off to a slow start in 2015 thanks to a knee injury which required minor surgery in late April. But in his last 36 games, Zobrist has hit .325/.416/.548 with four home runs and 17 RBI, raising his season marks to .268/.354/.447 with six home runs and 33 RBI in 271 plate appearances.