Wilmer Flores, whose shaky transition to shortstop had left some unconvinced he belonged there, didn't just hear rumors. He learned about a deal done. While the Mets played the Padres on July 29, myriad publications reported that Milwaukee had agreed to a trade that would have made Flores a Brewer. Flores, finding out the news from a fan, wept on the field for the world to see, only to then see the trade fall through.
As it turned out, neither player went anywhere -- except onto the biggest stages of their budding careers. For those who thought a Mets-Cubs National League Championship Series matchup was unlikely those few months ago, consider how even more improbable it is that the two shortstops who lacked a fit then would be key starters in October now.