Update: The previously reported deal is now being denied by Mets GM Sandy Alderson

https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/626588748759871488

Former New York Mets center fielder Carlos Gomez is reportedly the new current New York Mets center fielder.

After GM Sandy Alderson promised the fans a big move in free agency, he finally came through. Long were the Mets linked with Justin Upton, Jay Bruce, and Yoenis Cespedes but Gomez is the man that the Mets finally made a move for. In return, New York is sending Wilmer Flores and Zack Wheeler to the Milwaukee Brewers. Although Wheeler and Flores have plenty of potential (Wheeler, in particular) the trade is an absolutely great move by the Mets.

For starters, Gomez will be able to help the Mets right now — that’s something they need. Flores has been serviceable this season but Ruben Tejada has been more impressive of late, and the newly-acquired duo of Juan Uribe and Kelly Johnson made Flores disposable. It likely wasn’t very difficult for Alderson to part with Flores. Wheeler, on the other hand, is a name some Mets fans may be disappointed to hear in the trade. However, Wheeler wouldn’t be able to help the Mets until next July, realistically.

Mets fans have been clamoring for a move that would help the team now, and they got it.

This year Gomez is hitting .266/.332/.429 with eight home runs, 43 RBI and 42 runs, mostly from the leadoff position. He’s also batted third, fourth, fifth, and ninth this year (batting a fielder ninth is something manager Terry Collins has been a fan of this year). For comparison’s sake, Flores is ..249/.281/.379 with ten home runs and 40 RBI.

Like the Urbie/Johnson trade, this move gives Collins plenty of options with his lineup every day. Gomez can play left or center (if they decide to shut down Juan Lagares) and can bat anywhere in the lineup. Batting him leadoff may allow for Curtis Granderson to move down and potentially drive in more runs, since he’s one of the hottest hitters on the Mets right now; albeit, Granderson hasn’t quite thrived as a run-producer with the Mets. In which case, Gomez could bat third or fourth and coupled with the surging Lucas Duda could provide a more powerful punch in the middle of the order than the Mets have had all season.

Although the Mets have been all about the young pitching for quite a while now, it was imperative that they trade an arm for a bat. Years like this prove why pitching depth is important (i.e.: Wheeler, Steven Matz) but the Mets’ offense has been abysmal. And while Gomez is under contract through next season, Wheeler will likely miss half of the season.

Once this deal becomes final, the Mets will have seriously improved their roster, and while I wouldn’t say they’re World Series contenders, they’re definitely a better team now than they were this morning.

Matt Turner is a New York Mets Writer for www.RantSports.com. “Like” him on Facebook, follow him on Twitter @MTurnerNY, or add him to your network on LinkedIn or Google.