Mets trade rumors: Deal for Jay Bruce held up on a prospect’s medical records

The Mets, who appear to be on the cusp of a trade that will bring them Reds outfielder Jay Bruce, is being held up as the teams review each other’s players’ medical records.

The deal as discussed would send outfielder Brandon Nimmo and two “lower-level” prospects to Cincinnati in exchange for Bruce. The Reds are apparently concerned with the records of one of those prospects, though not much is know about who the prospects are or what the medical problem might be. Ken Rosenthal reports that the Mets are trying to rework the deal in light of this.

One of the prospects involved may be left-handed pitcher Max Wotell, whom the Mets selected in the third round in 2015 and is currently pitching in rookie ball with the Kingsport Mets of the Appalachian League. He has 31 strikeouts and 12 walks in 29.2 innings with a 3.94 ERA in six starts.

The Reds had a three-team deal in place in February that would have shipped Bruce to Toronto, but a medical issue with one of the Jays’ prospects nixed that trade. Closer to home, the Mets had reportedly traded for Brewers center fielder Carlos Gomez as last year’s deadline neared, but they backed out of the deal after being unsatisfied with a review of Gomez’s medicals.

The nonwaiver trade deadline expires at 4:00 PM ET today, so the Mets have less than two hours to get something done. They are said to still be looking at Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy as well.