In a final push, the Mets are trying to acquire at least one additional piece to upgrade their lineup.
With the non-waiver trading deadline set to arrive at 4 p.m. on Friday, club officials were circling the wagons, a day after their trade for outfielder Carlos Gomez vaporized.
Gomez was traded from Milwaukee to Houston on Thursday, after the Mets nixed a deal with the Brewers for the veteran outfielder a night earlier.
According to an industry source, the Mets are considering options that may not have been on their radar a day or two earlier. One name that has popped to the forefront is Jay Bruce, who might be available for Zack Wheeler, but it is unknown what portion of the $12.5 million the Reds outfielder is owed for next season the Mets would be asked to assume.
On a smaller scale, the Mets could pursue Rajai Davis or Will Venable. One source put the number of names the Mets discussed on Thursday in the “five to 10” range. The source said the Mets do not have a preference on a righty or lefty bat. The club also has not prioritized adding somebody with center field experience.
The fact the Mets pulled out of a deal that would have acquired Gomez from the Brewers for Wheeler and Wilmer Flores probably precludes the clubs from discussing a trade that would involve Gerardo Parra, according to a source.
Reports from Milwaukee surfaced Thursday that the Mets nixed the deal over financial concerns. But the Mets, according to general manager Sandy Alderson, didn’t complete the trade because of worries about Gomez’s hip, after reviewing his medicals.
“Why would this reflect poorly on anyone?” Alderson told The Post after Gomez had passed a physical, completing his trade to the Astros. “Our doctors felt the health risk was too great; Houston’s doctors apparently feel differently. End of story.”
The Mets have acquired Kelly Johnson, Juan Uribe and Tyler Clippard in the past week, but would like another bat that can bolster an outfield in flux.
Juan Lagares could be included in a deal to help subsidize a trade for a bigger-ticket item, but trading Lagares would leave the Mets in need of a center fielder unless one returned in a deal.
The fact Justin Upton and Yoenis Cespedes can’t be extended a qualifying offer after this season has the Mets hesitant to pursue either outfielder. Without the qualifying offer option, the Mets wouldn’t recover a draft pick from the player leaving through free agency.
Of course, if the price tag drops enough on Upton or Cespedes in the final hours of non-waiver trading for the season, the Mets could make the kind of big splash they crave.