This was a Citi Field freak show.
Mets general manager Sandy Alderson was in full denial mode Wednesday night, saying there is no deal in place that will send Carlos Gomez to his club from the Brewers in exchange for Zack Wheeler and Wilmer Flores.
The pronouncement came after the Mets’ 7-3 loss to the Padres, in which Flores received a standing ovation and later shed tears on the field, as captured by SNY’s cameras.
Reports by The Post and other media outlets surfaced during the game that a deal was in place — pending the examination of medicals — and Gomez had been alerted by Milwaukee officials that he was traded.
Brewers players even tweeted pictures saying goodbye to Gomez, while the team’s website reported the deal was done.
“Whatever has been speculated over the course of the evening has not and will not transpire,” Alderson said.
Asked if that meant the talks with Milwaukee were dead, Alderson responded: “You can interpret it that way, yeah.”
An industry source confirmed a FOX Sports report that the Mets pulled out of the deal amid concerns over Gomez’s hip.
Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said Gomez was notified on the team plane that a deal was in place. But before the plane landed, Gomez was told he should plan on reporting to work for the Brewers the following day.
“This is not the first agreed-upon deal that has fallen apart and it will not be the last,” Melvin said. “I was pretty confident the deal was going to happen, but it didn’t. It would have been a win-win for both sides.”
Gomez’s agent, Scott Boras, took issue with the assessment that Gomez’s hip is a factor.
“There is nothing at issue with Carlos Gomez’s health,” Boras said. “He is playing every day. That is proof of his health. He is fine.
“He will be in the lineup of the Milwaukee Brewers tomorrow. That is the evidence that you can have that [Gomez is healthy].”
It isn’t the first time the Mets and Boras have clashed over the health of a player. Following the 2009 season, Carlos Beltran — then represented by Boras — underwent arthroscopic knee surgery against the team’s wishes, setting off a firestorm between Boras and Mets officials.
A shaken Flores was told by Alderson immediately following the game that he was staying with the Mets. He had been told by teammates during the game of the reports that he had been traded.
Earlier, there was thought that the Brewers nixed the deal over concerns with Wheeler, who is rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. Alderson would not get into details over what transpired with Milwaukee.
Is Alderson still looking for another bat?
“It’s not Friday yet,” Alderson said, referring to the non-waiver trade deadline.
Manager Terry Collins said he left Flores in the game because he had no knowledge of the situation.
“There was nothing I knew about,” Collins said. “Why would I take him out of the game?”
Flores, who still had tears in his eyes as he spoke to reporters in the clubhouse, said he was told immediately after the game that he hadn’t been traded.
“I was sad, being with the Mets forever and having all my teammates here,” Flores said. “That’s why I got emotional out there.”
With Kelly Johnson, Juan Uribe and Tyler Clippard on board over the last week, Alderson wants to add another bat in the outfield. The 29-year-old Gomez has a .266/.332/.429 slash line and likely would have displaced Juan Lagares as the center fielder. In recent days, the slumping Lagares had been relegated to the bench, giving Kirk Nieuwenhuis playing time in center.
Gomez is signed through next year, when he will earn $9 million.
The Mets have made two deals without sacrificing top prospects.
Michael Conforto and Amed Rosario aren’t considered available for trades, according to a source, but the Mets are willing to deal from a pool that includes Brandon Nimmo, Gavin Cecchini and Michael Fulmer.
Justin Upton was on the Mets’ radar earlier this month, but with the asking price high, Alderson backed off. And an industry source indicated the Mets haven’t considered Yoenis Cespedes, whom the Tigers have made available. The Mets also seem reluctant to deal for Reds outfielder Jay Bruce, who has been on the trade block.
Last week, the Mets explored a deal with the Brewers that would have netted outfielder Gerardo Parra, but the two teams couldn’t reach agreement on pieces.
The Mets’ pitching depth would allow them to move Wheeler, who isn’t expected to pitch again until next July. The right-hander had his first throwing session since the surgery on Monday.
Additional reporting by Joel Sherman