New Yankees-Mets trade reveal will infuriate NYY fans

Billionaire Steve Cohen has insisted that the New York Mets will do business differently moving forward — and yes, that includes treating their cross-town rival Yankees as a viable trade partner.

If so, great! Because the latest update from SNY’s Andy Martino showed us all just how many times over the past few years that Yankees-Mets deals were agreed to in principle … only to disintegrate in actuality.

One trade, in particular, might’ve swung an American League championship.

(Squeeee) Sorry, that’s my blood boiling! I’ve gotta go turn the kettle off.

As the Yankees welcomed Jay Bruce to camp (opt-out March 25, don’t get too attached), Martino decided it marked a good occasion to go “open season” on disappointing Bombers fans with memories of years past.

According to his report, the Yanks and Mets have agreed in recent years to trades for Bruce, Neil Walker, and Zack Wheeler. Two of those men — Bruce and Walker — eventually wore pinstripes.

Wheeler probably never will, and he really would’ve helped out in the second half of 2019 and that year’s postseason, which was exactly what the Yankees thought they were agreeing to.

Ultimately, the Mets held onto Wheeler … then watched him walk to the Phillies for absolutely nothing in free agency. Thanks so much, Mets. Glad you were entirely unwilling to budge on the Yankees’ package — which, oh by the way, YOU AGREED TO.

How could Zack Wheeler have helped the 2019 Yankees?

Well, for starters … they had no starters!

The Yanks were a powerhouse against all odds for much of the season, fighting through myriad injuries to reach the ALCS. These “Savages” were as much Cameron Maybin and Mike Ford as they were Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton, and by the time they got to the Astros with a trip to the World Series on the line, they were essentially worn out.

Masahiro Tanaka dominated Game 1, James Paxton got his soul stolen in Game 2, and then … a not-stretched-out Luis Severino grinded out a few innings against Gerrit Cole in Game 3. Masahiro Tanaka came back for Game 4?! Paxton’s dominance sent the series back to H-Town, where Chad Green opened and closed in a matter of minutes.

Imagine if they’d been able to fill one or two of those starts with Wheeler, a Houston target at the very same 2019 deadline, too? He blazed through the second half of that campaign, ending the year with:

7 IP, 1 ER, 9K vs. Los Angeles Dodgers

7 IP, 1 ER, 6 K vs. Cincinnati Reds

8 IP, 3 ER, 10 K vs. Miami Marlins

Frankly, we would’ve enjoyed that in Game 4 of the ALCS! Masahiro Tanaka on extra rest in Game 6? Would’ve enjoyed it a lot!

Walker and Bruce are small potatoes in the grand scheme of things, but Wheeler really could’ve swung a “missing rings” season.

Someday, I’d love to know what exactly caused three separate agreed-upon deals to all fall apart.

Actually, you know what? Don’t tell me.

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