NEW YORK (AP) - Turns out Yoenis Céspedes took the fall, not Mickey Callaway.
On a hectic afternoon at Citi Field, the slumping New York Mets announced Monday they are sticking with their embattled manager “for the foreseeable future” - and Céspedes broke his right ankle in an accident on his ranch.
The oft-injured slugger has been sidelined most of the past two seasons and was home recovering from surgery on both heels. New York had hoped he could return sometime after the All-Star break, but this latest setback certainly puts Céspedes’ entire season, and perhaps his career, in jeopardy.
General manager Brodie Van Wagenen said the team was informed Saturday night that Céspedes sustained multiple ankle fractures on his ranch in Port St. Lucie, Florida, where the club’s spring training complex is located.
“He had a violent fall in which he stepped in a hole and put his leg and foot in a difficult position,” said Van Wagenen, who was Céspedes’ agent before becoming GM of the Mets last offseason.
The 33-year-old Céspedes enjoys riding horses. He told the team he did not fall off a horse, but Van Wagenen - declining to offer more specifics - said the injury was not baseball-related.
That could impact how much money the Mets can recoup in insurance on Céspedes’ contract or whether he was involved in an activity prohibited by the deal’s guarantee language. The two-time All-Star, who helped lead the team to the 2015 World Series and a 2016 playoff appearance, has played only 119 games since signing a $110 million, four-year contract before the 2017 season.
Van Wagenen, who was with the Mets in Miami last weekend, said he left the club to go see Céspedes on Sunday and make sure he receives the best medical care. The outfielder was in New York being evaluated at the Hospital for Special Surgery, and Van Wagenen said it was too soon to know how long Céspedes’ latest injury will keep him out.
Céspedes had separate operations to remove calcification and bone spurs from both heels, the first last August and the second in late October.
In other news, Robinson Canó was out of the starting lineup - for multiple reasons, according to Callaway - after failing to hustle twice last weekend.
Callaway said he spoke with Canó several times over the past few days and he was on the bench against Nationals left-hander Patrick Corbin because Canó has struggled against lefties, “he understands that it’s unacceptable to not run balls out” and the 36-year-old second baseman could use a day off.
Some fans booed when Canó came up as a pinch-hitter in the sixth inning. He was cheered after legging out a crisp double.
After the Mets’ 5-3 victory, Callaway was told it was the fastest Canó has run home to second on a double in three years, according to Statcast.
“It should have been. It better have been,” Callaway said, drawing chuckles. “I guess he got the hint.”
Right-hander Seth Lugo, one of New York’s most valuable and reliable relievers, was placed on the 10-day injured list with tendinitis in his pitching shoulder. The team selected the contract of left-hander Héctor Santiago from Triple-A Syracuse and transferred infielder Jed Lowrie to the 60-day injured list.
Van Wagenen said the move won’t affect the timetable for Lowrie, yet to make his Mets debut after signing a $20 million, two-year contract in the offseason. He sprained his left knee capsule early in spring training and then hurt a hamstring this month while on his rehab assignment, the Mets said.
New York (21-25) had lost a season-worst five straight and 21 of 32 overall before beating NL East rival Washington in the opener of a seven-game homestand. Missing injured slugger Michael Conforto (concussion), a listless Mets team was swept in three games at lowly Miami over the weekend and totaled only three hits in consecutive shutouts Saturday and Sunday.
With questions intensifying about Callaway’s job security in his second season as manager, the Mets held a meeting Monday with players and coaches to declare support for Callaway and his staff.
“Mickey is our manager now. Mickey is our manager going forward,” Van Wagenen said at a news conference attended by chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon.
“We’re not looking to blame a manager,” the GM added. “He has our full support to lead this team for the foreseeable future.”
Van Wagenen said the Mets haven’t met their expectations so far, but they know they can play better.
“The finger pointing is not going down the chain of command to the players or the coaches. We built this team in the front office. We believe that this team has the ability to contend, the same way we said that in the offseason loudly and proudly. The accountability that will ultimately fall on this team, I want to place on my shoulders,” Van Wagenen said.
“At the end of the day, this is our team. We’re proud of it, we believe in it,” he added.
Callaway said he appreciated the support, but never felt he didn’t have it.
“I’ve never looked over my shoulder,” he said. “We have to climb out of it and I believe we will.”
After putting Lugo on the injured list, New York switched course a bit and chose Wilmer Font (0-1, 9.95 ERA) over fellow right-hander Drew Gagnon (1-0, 4.09) to start Monday night in place of injured Jason Vargas. Callaway said with Lugo out, the team was confident in Gagnon’s ability to help protect a potential lead out of the bullpen.
Van Wagenen also said Conforto has been symptom-free for the past three days. The outfielder is on the seven-day concussion list.
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