Tennessee coach sends loud message to Mets fans after team trades for former Vols star Drew Gilbert
The New York Mets pulled off a blockbuster trade on Tuesday afternoon, sending future Hall of Fame starting pitcher Justin Verlander to the Houston Astros for a pair of top minor league prospects. One of the prospects the Mets received in the deal is former Tennessee Vols star outfielder Drew Gilbert. The former first round […]
The New York Mets pulled off a blockbuster trade on Tuesday afternoon, sending future Hall of Fame starting pitcher Justin Verlander to the Houston Astros for a pair of top minor league prospects.
One of the prospects the Mets received in the deal is former Tennessee Vols star outfielder Drew Gilbert.
The former first round draft pick is a bit of a cult hero in East Tennessee, thanks to his fiery demeanor, all-out playing style, and his propensity for coming through in clutch moments.
(It doesn't get more clutch then hitting a walk-off grand slam when your team is down three runs in an NCAA Tournament game.)
Gilbert is rising quickly through the minor leagues and he looks like a player that could make a big impact in the big leauges.
And that's essentially the message that Tennessee assistant coach Josh Elander sent to Mets fans after the trade was completed.
SNY's Michelle Margaux said during the broadcast of the Mets vs Kansas City Royals game on Tuesday night that she reached out to Elander for a few words on Gilbert.
Elander sent back a lengthy reply that included plenty of praise for one of the newest members of the Mets' organization.
"Drew is a winner," said Elander. "He makes everyone around him better and [he] is the highest quality teammate and competitor our staff has ever been around. His off-the-field personality is much more mellow and laid back. He's always joking and easygoing. He will instantly add some personality to any clubhouse and an edge on the field that is truly unmatched."
It's never easy to part with a future Hall of Famer like Verlander, but receiving a player like Gilbert in return certainly makes it easier.
The Mets entered the 2023 season with the highest payroll in MLB history. Their season, however, has been a massive disappointment which is why the team was a "seller" at the trade deadline. Part of the reason for the Mets' struggles this season has been the lack of a player with an "edge" like Gilbert. Perhaps he'll be the missing piece that New York's clubhouse needs.
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Featured image via Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
