ATLANTA (AP) — When the New York Mets finally found out Yoenis Céspedes was OK, they suddenly learned something else: The slugger had opted out of playing the rest of this season.Hours after Céspedes didn’t report to the ballpark without explanation, the Mets discovered in the late innings of Sunday’s 4-0 loss to Atlanta that he wouldn’t be back this year because of coronavirus concerns.“I am very surprised,” first-year manager Luis Rojas said. “Him and I have had conversations regularly about playing time, where he was going to hit in the lineup, building him up in the outfield.”“Nothing like this, so this is definitely a surprise,” he said.Céspedes went 0 for 4 during a 7-1 loss Saturday night in Atlanta. He is 5 for 31 (.161) with 15 strikeouts this season.The Mets sent out a statement from general manager Brodie Van Wagenen in the early innings Sunday saying they couldn’t find Céspedes. Van Wagenen said the organization was later notified by Céspedes’ agent that he had decided to opt... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — New York Mets slugger Yoenis Céspedes opted out of the 2020 season on Sunday because of the coronavirus pandemic, providing some clarity after the team said it was unable to locate him.Céspedes did not report to the ballpark for the Mets' game at Atlanta, and the team said in a statement it had been unable to contact him. General manager Brodie Van Wagenen said the organization was notified by Céspedes' agent during its 4-0 loss that he had decided to opt out for "for COVID-related reasons.”Céspedes went 0 for 4 during a 7-1 loss Saturday night in Atlanta. He is 5 for 31 (.161) with 15 strikeouts this season.A two-time All-Star, the 34-year-old Céspedes returned to the lineup this season for the first time since July 20, 2018. He missed most of the past two years with a series of leg problems, getting surgery on both heels and then a broken ankle after a tumble at his Florida ranch in a supposed run-in with a wild boar.Céspedes had been the Mets’ designated hitter this season,... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — New York Mets slugger Yoenis Céspedes was not with the team for Sunday’s game at Atlanta and the club said it hadn’t been able to locate him.“As of game time, Yoenis Céspedes has not reported to the ballpark today. He did not reach out to management with any explanation for his absence,” general manager Brodie Van Wagenen said in a statement.“Our attempts to contact him have been unsuccessful,” he said.During the New York-Atlanta game, Mets broadcasters said they had learned from the team that the club doesn't believe Céspedes' safety is at risk.Céspedes went 0 for 4 during a 7-1 loss Saturday night in Atlanta. He is 5 for 31 (.161) with 15 strikeouts this season.A two-time All-Star, the 34-year-old Céspedes returned to the lineup this season for the first time since July 20, 2018. He missed most of the past two years with a series of leg problems, getting surgery on both heels and then a broken ankle after a tumble at his Florida ranch in a supposed run-in with a wild boar.Céspedes... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — After nearly a month at Fenway Park, the Boston Red Sox needed a change of scenery. Even if it meant facing Jacob deGrom.Christian Vázquez hit a tying home run off Seth Lugo in the seventh inning and a two-run single against Justin Wilson n a three-run eighth, rallying the Red Sox over the Mets 6-5 Wednesday night when New York’s bullpen could not hold a lead for the two-time Cy Young Award winner.At 108-year-old Fenway, with the major leagues' most cramped clubhouses, Red Sox players used luxury suites to get dressed for the past month instead of their regular locker room. After a 1-4 start, they welcomed Citi Field's visitors' quarters.“We’re all together here in the clubhouse,“ said Nathan Eovaldi, who allowed two runs over five innings. ”We got the mask on. We’re staying same apart and stuff like that, but we’re all together in the clubhouse. And I think that’s what we miss the most. It's nice having the suites and everything, but I feel like we never see each other.”Boston... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — After nearly a month at Fenway Park, the Boston Red Sox needed a change of scenery. Even if it meant facing Jacob deGrom.Christian Vázquez hit a tying home run off Seth Lugo in the seventh inning and a two-run single against Justin Wilson n a three-run eighth, rallying the Red Sox over the Mets 6-5 Wednesday night when New York’s bullpen could not hold a lead for the two-time Cy Young Award winner.At 108-year-old Fenway, with the major leagues' most cramped clubhouses, Red Sox players used luxury suites to get dressed for the past month instead of their regular locker room. After a 1-4 start, they welcomed Citi Field's visitors' locker room.“We’re all together here in the clubhouse,“ said Nathan Eovaldi, who allowed two runs over five innings. ”We got the mask on. We’re staying same apart and stuff like that, but we’re all together in the clubhouse. And I think that’s what we miss the most. It's nice having the suites and everything, but I feel like we never see each other.”Boston... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Christian Vázquez hit a tying home run off Seth Lugo in the seventh inning and a two-run single against Justin Wilson in a three-run eighth, rallying the Boston Red Sox over the Mets 6-5 Wednesday night when New York’s bullpen could not hold a lead for two-time Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom.Boston had lost four in a row following its opening day win over Baltimore -- the equivalent of 11 straight over a full season -- that included a pair of defeats to the Mets at Fenway Park.New York closed with a run in the ninth, when a diving stop by third baseman Rafael Devers helped Brandon Workman strand the bases loaded. Workman recovered for his first save of the year by striking out Yoenis Céspedes and retiring Robinson Canó on a soft liner to shortstop.DeGrom, throwing at up to 101 mph, extended his consecutive scoreless streak to 31 innings before allowing a pair of runs in the fourth but got his second straight no-decision, allowing two runs and three hits in six innings... [More]

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — Tim Tebow was reassigned to minor league camp by the New York Mets on Friday after going 2 for 13 in spring training with his first extra-base hit in four years.The 32-year-old outfielder and former Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback homered against Detroit's Alex Wilson on Feb. 25. He also had three walks.Tebow has a .151 average (11 for 73) in four spring trainings with the Mets. After a three-year stint at quarterback in the NFL, he joined the Mets organization in late 2016. He hit .148 (4 for 27) with eight strikeouts during spring training in 2017, .056 (1 for 18) in 2018 and .267 (4 for 15) last year.He batted .163 in 77 games last season at Triple-A Syracuse in his second straight injury-shortened season. He did not play after July 21 because he cut his left hand while fielding a ball in the outfield. Tebow hit .273 with six home runs, 14 doubles and 36 RBIs in 84 games for Double-A Binghamton in 2018, when his season ended July 18 because of a broken bone in his right hand.New York also optioned left-hander Stephen Gonsalves to Triple-A Syracuse along with right-handers Jordan Humphreys and Franklyn Kilome, and left-hander Thomas Szapucki to Double-A Binghamton.Right-handers Matt Blackham, Stephen Nogosek, Francisco Ríos and Nick Rumbelow were reassigned to minor league camp along with catchers Austin Bossart and David Rodríguez.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports___

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — Tim Tebow was reassigned to minor league camp by the New York Mets on Friday after going 2 for 13 in spring training with his first extra-base hit in four years.The 32-year-old outfielder and former Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback homered against Detroit's Alex Wilson on Feb. 25. He also had three walks.Tebow has a .151 average (11 for 73) in four spring trainings with the Mets. After a three-year stint at quarterback in the NFL, he joined the Mets organization in late 2016. He hit .148 (4 for 27) with eight strikeouts during spring training in 2017, .056 (1 for 18) in 2018 and .267 (4 for 15) last year.He batted .163 in 77 games last season at Triple-A Syracuse in his second straight injury-shortened season. He did not play after July 21 because he cut his left hand while fielding a ball in the outfield. Tebow hit .273 with six home runs, 14 doubles and 36 RBIs in 84 games for Double-A Binghamton in 2018, when his season ended July 18 because of a broken bone in his right hand.New York also optioned left-handers Stephen Gonsalves and Thomas Szapucki to the minors along with right-handers Jordan Humphreys and Franklyn Kilome.Right-handers Matt Blackham, Stephen Nogosek, Francisco Ríos and Nick Rumbelow were reassigned to minor league camp along with catchers Austin Bossart and David Rodríguez.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports___

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — Tim Tebow was reassigned to minor league camp by the New York Mets on Friday after going 1 for 8 in spring training with his first extra-base hit in four years.The 32-year-old outfielder and former Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback homered against Detroit's Alex Wilson on Feb. 25. He also had three walks.Tebow has a .147 average (10 for 68) in four spring trainings with the Mets. After a three-year stint at quarterback in the NFL, he joined the Mets organization in late 2016. He hit .148 (4 for 27) with eight strikeouts during spring training in 2017, .056 (1 for 18) in 2018 and .267 (4 for 15) last year.He batted .163 in 77 games last season at Triple-A Syracuse in his second straight injury-shortened season. He did not play after July 21 because he cut his left hand while fielding a ball in the outfield. Tebow hit .273 with six home runs, 14 doubles and 36 RBIs in 84 games for Double-A Binghamton in 2018, when his season ended July 18 because of a broken bone in his right hand.New York also optioned left-handers Stephen Gonsalves and Thomas Szapucki to the minors along with right-handers Jordan Humphreys and Franklyn Kilome.Right-handers Matt Blackham, Stephen Nogosek, Francisco Ríos and Nick Rumbelow were reassigned to minor league camp along with catchers Austin Bossart and David Rodríguez.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports___