Mets balked at chance to make blockbuster Kris Bryant trade at deadline

The New York Mets were this close to acquiring Kris Bryant at the trade deadline last month.

As the New York Mets find themselves out of first place in the NL East standings, it is only fitting that news came out on how they were this close to adding Kris Bryant in a blockbuster trade with the Chicago Cubs at the deadline.

The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reports that the Mets nearly offered Chicago a robust package that would have sent the former No. 2 overall pick by the Cubs to New York. Unfortunately, the trade deadline coincided with Jacob deGrom’s arm issues, and the Mets backed out of the trade involving Bryant.

He now plays for the NL West-contending San Francisco Giants, and the Mets are in a tailspin.

New York Mets nearly traded for Kris Bryant during the MLB trade deadline

Though the Mets did add Bryant’s former Cubs teammate Javy Baez at the deadline, that move has not been enough to keep pace with the Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL East. Atlanta has caught fire of late, as the Braves now have a four-game lead over second-place Philadelphia. New York had been in first place throughout much of the year but is now in third.

While Mets fans should be happy they were able add Baez at the deadline, we have to wonder what could have been if Bryant was playing in Queens now. Even if he does sign with the Mets this offseason in his high-profile free agency, missing out on the postseason yet again could leave a pit on the fanbase’s stomach, knowing they were this close.

Bryant now has an opportunity to win a second World Series before hitting free agency this winter.