Just Mets

The Mets only have a few hours to find the bat they’re seeking before the non-waiver trade deadline comes at 4 PM on Friday.

Anthony DiComo of MLB.com said last week the Mets were scouting Reds OF Jay Bruce, “heavily,” and the Mets were trying to trade Zack Wheeler to the Reds in exchange for Bruce, reported the Daily News.

However, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports said those discussions went nowhere.

But now that the deadline is approaching and Bruce is still in Cincinnati, the Reds appear willing to make a Wheeler-for-Bruce deal now, reports Buster Olney of ESPN, with the Mets apparently pushing hard to land the outfielder, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.

Rosenthal said on Friday the Mets were working late on Thursday to get a deal done, and it’s expected to happen ahead of the deadline.

Rosenthal says Wheeler would likely be traded to the Reds for Bruce, possibly along with another piece.

However, it is not yet clear what other players or monies might be involved in a potential deal, from either side.

The two sides are still negotiating, Andy Martino of the Daily News says, and the issue could be whether Wheeler is enough for a deal.

Still, the negotiations are pretty far along, reports Adam Rubin of ESPN New York, to the point each club is doing their due dilligencr by reviewing medicals for the players involved in the deal.

The Reds have benn mulling Wheeler’s medical records, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post. He underwent Tommy John Surgery in late March and only began his throwing program this week in Port St. Lucie. And it’s possible the Reds are having second thoughts about the package the Mets want to send them for Bruce, according to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.

Meanwhile, Bob Nightengale of USA Today says the Mets have two concerns with Bruce: his inconsistency and his salary.

So, the Mets are preparing a contingency to Bruce in case they can’t acquire him, as he is not their only option at the moment, tweets David Lennon of Newsday, and that search is exclusive to outfielders, reports Marc Carig of Newsday.

The Mets are looking at 5-10 outfielders, including Bruce, and perhaps Yoenis Cespedes as well, according to Mike Puma of the New York Post. Those outfielders could include Bruce, Yoenis Cespedes, Justin Upton, Rajai Davis, and Will Venable, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.

And considering the Mets have cast a wide net, Andy Martino of the Daily News says the Mets could acquire two bats ahead of Friday’s 4 PM ET trade deadline, with Bruce being their most, “serious target” on Friday.

However, a rival executive told Rosenthal it’s possible the Reds don’t want to deal Bruce right now, and C. Trent Rosecrans of the Cincinnati Enquirer now says it’s unlikely the Reds trade Bruce.

Bruce is owed about $5 million in 2015 and $12.5 million in 2016. The Reds hold a $13 million option with a $1 million buyout for 2017.

Original Post, July 30 8:01 pm, updated July 31, 8:05 am, 10:25 am, 11:17 am, 12:23 pm, 12:45 pm, 1:51 pm