PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — Getting back on the mound late last season was important for Noah Syndergaard.The New York Mets star went on the disabled list after tearing a lat muscle on April 30 in his fifth start, a 23-5 loss to Washington.He made a pair of brief minor league appearances at the start of September, then had two short outings for New York in the season's final 10 days, totaling three innings."You don't want to go into the offseason in a rehab protocol. I worked so hard for four months that I felt I needed a little bit of a reward to go out there and have success and show that I can come back from a serious injury like that healthy," he said Wednesday in his first appearance at pre-spring training workouts.The 25-year-old right-hander is the ace of the rotation under new manager Mickey Callaway, who replaced Terry Collins. He heads a staff that includes Jacob deGrom, Matt Harvey, Steven Matz and Zack Wheeler, a quintet that combined for just 86 starts last year."I think if... [More]

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — Getting back on the mound late last season was important for Noah Syndergaard.The New York Mets star went on the disabled list after tearing a lat muscle on April 30 in his fifth start, a 23-5 loss to Washington.He made a pair of brief minor league appearances at the start of September, then had two short outings for New York in the season's final 10 days, totaling three innings."You don't want to go into the offseason in a rehab protocol. I worked so hard for four months that I felt I needed a little bit of a reward to go out there and have success and show that I can come back from a serious injury like that healthy," he said Wednesday in his first appearance at pre-spring training workouts.The 25-year-old right-hander is the ace of the rotation under new manager Mickey Callaway, who replaced Terry Collins. He heads a staff that includes Jacob deGrom, Matt Harvey, Steven Matz and Zack Wheeler, a quintet that combined for just 86 starts last year."I think if... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — A prominent baseball agent said players are angered over the slow free-agent market and suggested they consider boycotting spring training.Brodie Van Wagenen, co-head of CAA Baseball, floated the idea in a statement released Friday, less than two weeks before spring training workouts are to start in Florida and Arizona. He also raised the possibility of a collusion grievance, as did another agent, Seth Levinson of Aces."The players are upset. No, they are outraged. Players in the midst of long-term contracts are as frustrated as those still seeking employment," Van Wagenen said. "I would suggest that testing the will of 1,200 alpha males at the pinnacle of their profession is not a good strategy for 30 men who are bound by a much smaller fraternity."J.D. Martinez, Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas, Jake Arrieta, Yu Darvish, Alex Cobb, Greg Holland and Lance Lynn remain among the dozens of unsigned free agents."A boycott of spring training may be a starting point, if behavior doesn't... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — A prominent baseball agent said players are angered over the slow free-agent market and suggested they consider boycotting spring training.Brodie Van Wagenen, co-head of CAA Baseball, floated the idea in a statement released Friday, less than two weeks before spring training workouts are to start in Florida and Arizona. He also raised the possibility of a collusion grievance, as did another agent, Seth Levinson of Aces."The players are upset. No, they are outraged. Players in the midst of long-term contracts are as frustrated as those still seeking employment," Van Wagenen said. "I would suggest that testing the will of 1,200 alpha males at the pinnacle of their profession is not a good strategy for 30 men who are bound by a much smaller fraternity."J.D. Martinez, Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas, Jake Arrieta, Yu Darvish, Alex Cobb, Greg Holland and Lance Lynn remain among the dozens of unsigned free agents."A boycott of spring training may be a starting point, if behavior doesn't... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — A prominent baseball agent says players are angered over the slow free-agent market and suggests they consider boycotting spring training.Brodie Van Wagenen, co-head of CAA Baseball, floated the idea in a statement released Friday, less than two weeks before spring training workouts are to start in Florida and Arizona."The players are upset. No, they are outraged. Players in the midst of long-term contracts are as frustrated as those still seeking employment," he said. "I would suggest that testing the will of 1,200 alpha males at the pinnacle of their profession is not a good strategy for 30 men who are bound by a much smaller fraternity."J.D. Martinez, Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas, Jake Arrieta, Alex Cobb, Greg Holland and Lance Lynn remain among the dozens of unsigned free agents."There is a rising tide among players for radical change. A fight is brewing," he said. "A boycott of spring training may be a starting point, if behavior doesn't change. Players don't receive... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Mets chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon defended the team's offseason spending, saying more moves are likely before opening day and during the season."Being top five in payroll, I don't think that won us a World Series," he said Tuesday during a media gathering. "So we're set out to make the playoffs and do well ... try to win the World Series, not try and be at the top five in payroll."New York started last season at $157 million for its 40-man roster and cut it to $149 million as the team faded from contention following a series of injuries. Two years after reaching the World Series, the Mets went 70-92 for their worst record since 2009.This year's payroll projects to be in the $140 million range after the New York gave outfielder Jay Bruce a $39 million, three-year contract and reliever Anthony Swarzak a $14 million, two-year deal."I get what the fan perception is. It's not something that's lost on any of us," Wilpon said. "I understand the fan base's frustration and... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Mets chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon defended the team's offseason spending, saying more moves are likely before opening day and during the season."Being top five in payroll, I don't think that won us a World Series," he said Tuesday during a media gathering. "So we're set out to make the playoffs and do well ... try to win the World Series, not try and be at the top five in payroll."New York started last season at $157 million for its 40-man roster and cut it to $149 million as the team faded from contention following a series of injuries. Two years after reaching the World Series, the Mets went 70-92 for their worst record since 2009.This year's payroll projects to be in the $140 million range after the New York gave outfielder Jay Bruce a $39 million, three-year contract and reliever Anthony Swarzak a $14 million, two-year deal."I get what the fan perception is. It's not something that's lost on any of us," Wilpon said. "I understand the fan base's frustration and... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Jay Bruce and his proven bat are headed back to the New York Mets.The free-agent outfielder is set to return to the Big Apple after agreeing to a $39 million, three-year contract, according to two people familiar with the negotiations. The people spoke on condition of anonymity Wednesday night because the deal is pending a physical and no announcement had been made.Bruce will get $10 million this year and $14.5 million in each of the following two seasons. He can designated five teams each year that he cannot be traded to without his consent.A three-time All-Star, Bruce hit a combined .254 with 36 home runs and 101 RBIs for the Mets and Cleveland Indians last season. After falling out of playoff contention, New York traded him to the AL Central champions on Aug. 9 for minor league pitcher Ryder Ryan.Bruce, who turns 31 on April 3, fills a hole in the outfield and brings back some much-needed power to a Mets team trying to rebound from an injury-ravaged 70-92 season. His... [More]

OF Yoenis Cespedes will be sidelined for the rest of the season because of a right hamstring strain, the Mets announced Monday.Cespedes was placed on the 10-day disabled list on Saturday, and he had an MRI exam on Monday that confirmed the extent of the injury. He should be recovered in about six weeks, but that would be after the regular season is over. The Mets have virtually no chance of reaching the postseason. The 31-year-old Cespedes hit .292 with 17 homers and 42 RBIs in 81 games this season.

LF Yoenis Cespedes was placed on the 10-day disabled listby the Mets on Saturday because of a strained right hamstring, possibly ending his 2017 season. Cespedes left Friday night's game 4-2 victory over the Washington Nationals in the first inning after he hobbled around third while running the bases. The 31-year-old Cespedes is hitting .292 with 17 home runs and 42 RBIs in only 81 games this season because of various injuries. The hamstring injury is Cespedes' second this season. "He will be examined Monday in New York. We will have somebody else in here tomorrow; we will have someone take his spot," general manager Sandy Alderson said. "I would say the season is in jeopardy."

The New York Mets placed left fielder Yoenis Cespedes on the 10-day disabled list Saturday because of a strained right hamstring, possibly ending his 2017 season.The Mets activated infielder Jose Reyes from the disabled list, called up outfielder Travis Taijeron from Triple-A Las Vegas and optioned right-hander Kevin McGowan to their Triple-A team.Cespedes left Friday night's game 4-2 win over the Washington Nationals in the first inning after he hobbled around third while running the bases. He is hitting .292 with 17 homers and 42 RBIs in only 81 games this year because of various injuries.Reyes, who was on the disabled list since mid-August because of a sore left ribcage, is hitting .223 with nine home runs and 39 RBIs in 114 games. Taijeron is batting .272 with 25 home runs and 78 RBIs in 125 games for Las Vegas. McGowan allowed one run in 1 1/3 innings in his one appearance for the Mets.--The Kansas City Royals placed left-hander Danny Duffy on the 10-day disabled list with elbow impingement... [More]

The New York Mets placed left fielder Yoenis Cespedes on the 10-day disabled list on Saturday because of a strained right hamstring, possibly ending his 2017 season.The Mets activated infielder Jose Reyes from the disabled list, called up outfielder Travis Taijeron from Triple-A Las Vegas and optioned right-hander Kevin McGowan to their Triple-A team.Cespedes left Friday night's game 4-2 victory over the Washington Nationals in the first inning after he hobbled around third while running the bases.The 31-year-old Cespedes is hitting .292 with 17 home runs and 42 RBIs in only 81 games this season because of various injuries.The hamstring injury is Cespedes' second this season. "It's been very frustrating because I know how much work I've put into this (past) offseason to come in ready this year," Cespedes said Friday night. "This one in particular was so frustrating because I think, right before this, I had felt the best I had felt all season long."Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said... [More]

LF Yoenis Cespedes (right hamstring strain) left the game in the first inning Friday in a 4-2 win in Washington. The win came with a cost, as Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said after the game that Cespedes will go on the disabled list and could be lost for the year after he strained his right hamstring while running the bases. "He will be examined Monday in New York. We will have somebody else in here tomorrow; we will have someone take his spot," Alderson said. "I would say the season is in jeopardy."

LF Yoenis Cespedes continued to heat up Monday, when he went 3-for-5 with an RBI single in the Mets' 3-2, 10-inning loss to the Diamondbacks. All three hits were singles for Cespedes, who is batting .313 with five homers and 11 RBIs over his last 13 games, a stretch in which he's posted five multi-hit games. The three-hit game was Cespedes' first since July 25 and his seventh time this year he's collected at least three hits. Cespedes is batting .281 with 16 homers and 41 RBIs in 77 games this season.

LF Yoenis Cespedes hit his 15th homer Monday in the third inning against RHP Luis Cessa. Cespedes homered for the third straight game, and it marked the fourth time he has done so. Cespedes last homered in three straight games Sept. 1-4, 2015.

OF Yoenis Cespedes has 10 home runs in 18 games at Citizens Bank Park, the most he has in any visiting ballpark.

OF Yoenis Cespedes hit his 150th career home run Friday night. Cespedes turned around a 96-mph offering from Nick Pivetta and hit it 429 feet. It was the 13th homer of the season for the 31-year-old.

LF Yoenis Cespedes hit his 11th home run and has hit safely in nine of past 10 games, going 13-for-41 in that span with two home runs, four doubles, two triples and eight RBIs in that span. In 10 career games at Coors Field, Cespedes is 14-for-41 with five homers and 12 RBIs. In 19 career games against the Rockies, Cespedes is 22-for-73 with six homers and 15 RBIs.

LF Yoenis Cespedes went 2-for-4 with one RBI on Tuesday. In eight games at Coors Field, he's hitting .387 (12-for-31) with three doubles, four home runs and 10 RBIs. Cespedes has at least one hit in seven of eight games on the Mets' current road trip, going 11-for-31 (.355).

LF Yoenis Cespedes was back in the Mets lineup Wednesday after leaving Tuesday night's game with tightness in both quad muscles. But Collins said Cespedes' quads remain an issue moving forward. "We're going to have to watch him," said Collins. Cespedes was 1-for-4 Wednesday night after going 3-for-4 with a homer, a triple and three RBIs Tuesday. His quads tightened when he was running out the triple and scoring on an error. Cespedes is 16-for-47 (.340) in 12 games since the All-Star break.