On eve of World Series, Flores reflects on nixed trade to Brewers

As New York Mets shortstop Wilmer Flores prepared for the first World Series of his young career, he didn't hesitate to reflect on how close he came to missing the opportunity.

Flores was all but shipped to the Milwaukee Brewers one day before the non-waiver trade deadline, and broke down in tears on the field when told as much by a group of fans sitting next to the dugout. The trade, however, was nixed after Mets general manager Sandy Alderson had concerns about Brewers outfielder Carlos Gomez's hip, keeping Flores in Queens.

"Sometimes I still think about that trade, and I think, 'Where would I be now if I had been traded?' If that happened, I'd have gone to play in Milwaukee and then I'd go home and watch the World Series," Flores told Dan Martin of the New York Post.

Flores acknowledged that, as tough as it would have been to sit and watch his former team play on baseball's biggest stage, he still would have tuned in.

"I'm a baseball fan, so I would have watched," Flores said. "Last year, I watched Kansas City and the Giants. This time, I would have been a little sad if the Mets were here and I was home, but I know I would have had to see it."

The 24-year-old won't have to settle for watching the World Series on TV, though, as he'll be front and center as the Mets' starting shortstop.

"If you had told me in February that I was going to play shortstop in the World Series, I would have said, 'I don't know about that,'" Flores said. "Now I'm here and I'm thankful for everything I went through. Everything happens for a reason and here we are."