CLEVELAND -- Jay Bruce almost wasn't the only former member of the Cleveland Indians the New York Mets added on Wednesday. According to Fan Rag Sports' Jon Heyman, the Mets and Indians had a deal in place that would have sent second baseman Jason Kipnis to New York, before the trade was ultimately nixed.
According to Heyman, talks between the Mets and Indians became so advanced that members of both organizations believed they had a done deal. The trade, however, was ultimately called off by a higher up in the New York organization -- likely over concerns regarding Kipnis' contract.
Kipnis, 30, is guaranteed $30.5 million over the course of the next two years. On Wednesday, the Mets signed Bruce to a reported 3-year, $39 million deal.
A 2-time All-Star, Kipnis has remained a stalwart of the Cleveland lineup since being called up to the big leagues in 2011. In seven seasons, he has batted .268 and hit 88 home runs to go along with 389 RBIs.
Injuries, however, hampered his 2017 season, limiting him to 90 regular season games. He was moved to the outfield just prior to the start of the playoffs and started in centerfield during all five games of the Indians' American League Division Series loss to the New York Yankees.
Earlier this week, Cleveland manager Terry Francona told MLB Network he believed Kipnis would resume his traditional role at second base in 2018. Whether or not that will be with the Indians, though, now appears up in the air.
