New York Post

What might be the most flawed Mets team of at least the last quarter-century — and that’s saying something when you consider the Art Howe era and the early years of Terry Collins’ regime — departed for the All-Star break Sunday night and shouldn’t bother returning. Unfortunately, MLB mandates teams play 162 games, so fans...

WASHINGTON — Andres Gimenez speaks of his goals, and the fact he actually uses the word “goal,” in English, reflects well on the Mets prospect’s progress. “I was practicing all these years,” the Venezuelan shortstop said Sunday, before he participated in the Futures Game at Nationals Park. “That’s a goal for me, to speak English...

Corey Oswalt has left the Mets with some thinking to do over the All-Star break. Before the club broke for a four-day respite from its disappointing season, the rookie right-hander turned in another solid start, giving up just one run on two hits over five innings before the bullpen faltered in a 6-1 loss to...

It’s all in the hands of Dave Roberts. The Dodgers’ boss and National League manager will announce Monday his starter for Tuesday’s All-Star Game, likely a choice between baseball’s best pitcher this season and the sentimental favorite. Mets ace Jacob deGrom has been more than dominant enough to earn the start, but Roberts may opt...

WASHINGTON — Peter Alonso’s surge just went national. Global, even. For every Mets fan who has suffered through this fiasco of a first half, a tonic arrived Sunday at Nationals Park, in the form of Alonso. This guy. Wow. OK, it was the exhibition Futures Game, and given that a total of eight balls left...

WASHINGTON — Contending teams pursuing starting pitching continue to operate as if Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard are not moving before the trade deadline, forcing clubs such as the Yankees to mull these questions in an ace-less marketplace: 1. Do they prioritize the kind of starter unlikely to be bothered by pennant-race intensity and likely...

The Mets head to the All-Star break with their most losses in a quarter-century, but at least one piece of good news: The misery is actually more than halfway done. The unofficial end to the Mets’ first half of the season provided a tidy recap of the 11-week free fall that buried the excitement of...

The second half of the season could be more interesting than the Mets’ record suggests. David Wright could make his long-awaited return. Tim Tebow could play at Citi Field. And in less than a week, Yoenis Cespedes could be back in the lineup. The 32-year-old slugger, who has been out since May 13 because of...

Let us stipulate that there is not a soul in professional sports who, if given the choice between getting meager playing time in the majors and a prominent role in the minors, would choose the latter. Are you kidding me? No one willingly gives up life in the bigs, which not so coincidentally comes with...

The moment the ball that had left his bat landed 375 feet from home plate, Michael Conforto clapped his hands while rounding first base. It was a brief but understandable show of emotion from the Mets outfielder, who was in need of a big hit — it was his first home run in 16 games....

Jose Bautista was confident he still had it in him all along. Even as he began the 2018 season without a team, and even after his 15th year in the big leagues began with a brief, unproductive stint with the Braves before he was released — a scuffling stretch that continued in his first 22...

Yoenis Cespedes could be showing up against the Yankees in The Bronx next weekend. The Mets’ outfielder is progressing in his rehab. He is expected to play in a simulated game or begin a minor league rehab assignment in the coming days. Manager Mickey Callaway was asked Saturday about the possibility of Cespedes playing as...

Zack Wheeler’s trade value to the Mets may never be higher. Your move, Mets. In desperate need of younger and more athletic pieces in a thin market for starting pitchers, the Mets were “50-50” earlier this week on whether they would deal Wheeler heading toward the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline. Saturday’s performance was further...

Just about every contender is a starving person and the Mets have the food — and their current leaning is not to share the provisions. “They are entering this trade market with the most valuable pieces and are opting to sit on the sideline,” said an exasperated executive from a contending team. There is still...

Amed Rosario will never know how he might have fared against Max Scherzer on Thursday night, or how it might have affected him, but manager Mickey Callaway said he was looking out for the young Mets shortstop by benching him against the Nationals ace. One night later, Rosario got back to crushing the ball. The...