Wilmer Flores plays through tears after learning of impending trade
As wonderful a game as baseball is, when you play it professionally you also have to deal with the business side of the game, which at times can lead to uncertainly and utlmately heartache.
For Wilmer Flores, the likely soon-to-be former New York Mets shortstop, the heartache was plainly visible as he attempted to do his job on Wednesday night. As the Mets took on the San Diego Padres at Citi Field, word began to trickle out that Flores, along with Mets pitcher Zack Wheeler, was headed to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for outfielder Carlos Gomez.
Obviously that word got down to field level and to Flores himself, and it was difficult for him to keep his emotions in check.
Wilmer Flores has been with the Mets organization since he signed as a 16-year-old in 2007, so it’s easy to understand the emotions he was going through on the field. He’s grown up with the team. He’s made a home in New York. It’s all he knows as a professional baseball player, and it’s difficult to grasp the realization that it could end at any moment.
As the innings wore on, everybody waited for Flores to leave the game, knowing it would symbolize that a trade had been completed. But the anticipation, which around social media circles has been termed as #HugWatch, simply turned to despair as Flores was left on the field.
It’s heartbreaking, really.
If completed, adding Gomez would be a major upgrade for the Mets struggling offense. That’s the side we always focus on. But the trade will also significantly alter the lives of all three involved, which is something we need to consider more.
Thanks to Wednesday’s rare and raw glimpse at just how stressful and just how much impact these moments can have, maybe we will.
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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Townie813
