After the Mets beat the Yankees on Friday night in Yoenis Cespedes' return, the slugger dropped a bombshell: He will need surgery on both of his heels at some point and the recovery time is 8-10 months.

Cespedes is not in the lineup Saturday and manager Mickey Callaway said he was unaware of Cespedes' comments from the night prior. 

"I'm not quite exactly sure what he said," Callaway said Saturday prior to the Mets game against the Yankees. "I just know he came in pretty sore today."

Andy Martino, SNY.tv | Twitter | The Mets have not finalized a trade of Jeurys Familia, and he will be unavailable to pitch on Saturday for the second straight day. 

The Mets are working to finalize a deal to send Familia to Oakland, according to major league sources.

The deal has not been finalized, but was advanced enough to keep Familia out of Friday's game. Typically, that means that teams are going through medicals of the players involved...

One day after returning from the DL, Mets OF Yoenis Cespedes is not in Saturday's lineup against the Yankees. Asdrubal Cabrera starts at DH instead.

Manager Mickey Callaway said that Cespedes came in 'pretty sore' on Saturday and might be available off the bench.

Cespedes revealed after Friday's win against the Yankees that he will likely need heel surgery at some point, as his heels are the root of his other leg injuries.

"I've realized that the cause of my problems are my heels," he said through an interpreter in his postgame interview...

The Mets (40-55) and Yankees (62-34) continue their Subway Series rematch to kick off the second half of the season at Yankee Stadium on Saturday at 1:10 p.m.

Mets Notes...

On the latest episode of Shea Anything, Doug Williams and Andy Martino break down the latest rumors surrounding Mets ace Jacob deGrom, and discuss whether he will be traded or offered an extension. Later, the guys move on to the minor leagues to talk about the Mets' system.

Don't forget -- Doug and Andy want to hear from you! Go to SNY.tv/SheaAnything and upload a video or audio clip of your take on the Mets. Keep it to 30 seconds or less, make it good, and you may be on the show!

Click below to listen...

Mets OF Tim Tebow is scheduled to see a hand specialist early next week, the team announced. Tebow left Thursday's Double-A game in the seventh inning with right hand/wrist discomfort. 

Tebow's discomfort came following a swing. He went 1-2 with a walk and a run before being removed.

This season, Tebow is hitting .273/.336/.399 this season with 6 HR and 36 RBI with Binghamton. 

Before the All-Star break, the Mets got to see if Noah Syndergaard was officially over his strain in his right index finger. He passed the test against the Nationals, allowing just one run over five innings. 

Well, more of the same was seen in Syndergaard's second start since coming off the DL as he shut down the Yankees' high-powered offense on Friday night. However, there was one hiccup.

In the middle of the fifth inning, manager Mickey Callaway came out to the mound with a trainer by his side to assess Syndergaard. The SNY broadcast team noticed Syndergaard looking at his throwing hand, and it was noted that his velocity on his pitches had dropped significantly. Syndergaard was pumping 98 and 99-mph fastballs, and they had dipped to around 94 mph...

Mets OF Yoenis Cespedes made his comeback to the lineup on Friday night in the Bronx, and everything about his return went great. He hit a homer and finished 2-for-4 in the win. 

But his night wasn't all smiles after all.

Cespedes told reporters that the root of all his medical issues this season is in fact calcification in both heels. The veteran outfielder added that surgery is the only way to fix this issue, and the the expected recovery time is 8-10 months. 

The Mets set the tone with three runs in the first inning as they held off the Yankees, 7-5, in the Subway Series opener.

The Mets' bullpen faltered a little, but stayed strong to get their first win of the second half over the Yankees, 7-5, in the Bronx Friday night. 

For a full box score of the game, click here.

Things you should know about today's game...

Coming back from the All-Star break, the Mets began their second half with a Subway Series rematch with the Yankees, this time on the road. And they were the ones to strike first in this one. 

It was Mets 2B Asdrubal Cabrera who stayed on a 1-2 curveball and laced it down the right-field line to score Brandon Nimmo. 

CLICK BELOW TO SEE IT

There have been lots of memorable moments between the Mets and Yankees since the Subway Series began in 1997. 

Among the well-known moments are Dave Mlicki's shutout during the first-ever meeting, Luis Castillo's dropped pop-up, David Wright's game-winning hit off Mariano Rivera, and El Duque tossing his glove.

Before getting to six obscure moments you might have forgotten, let's give an honorable mention to Dwight Gooden returning to Shea Stadium (and beating the Mets) during the two-stadium doubleheader in 2000, and Mr. Koo's mad dash home after doubling off Randy Johnson at Shea Stadium in 2005. Now on the the obscure moments...

The Mets (39-55) and Yankees (62-33) begin a Subway Series rematch to kick off the second half of the season at Yankee Stadium on Friday at 7:10 p.m. on SNY.

Mets Notes...

Jay Bruce has been out of the Mets' lineup for over a month, and as one would think, frustration has set in. 

Bruce was originally placed on the 10-day DL last month after experiencing a butt/back issue as well as plantar fascitis in his left foot. Most recently, he had a setback after suffering a right hip strain, which forced the Mets to shut him down. 

"This has been a pretty helpless feeling for me," Bruce said prior to Friday's game against the Yankees to kick off the second half of the season.  

The Mets will be "proactive" with Yoenis Cespedes, who was activated from the DL on Friday, and manager Mickey Callaway said to not be surprised if Cespedes is a late scratch from the lineup from time-to-time.

The reason, according to Callaway, is that Cespedes has a new pregame routine, and there might be certain days where the team doesn't think he's in the best spot to stay healthy throughout the game.

The Cespedes at first base experiment also might be on, with Callaway saying he could see some time there -- though he added Cespedes still has some work to do to get fully comfortable at the position...

Danny Abriano, SNY.tv | Twitter |

Every Friday, we'll be taking a look at how the Mets' top prospects are faring in the minors...

Peter Alonso, 1B, Triple-A Las Vegas -- ETA 2018

The 23-year-old Alonso is in the midst of a rough patch with Triple-A Las Vegas, hitting just .178/.306/.426 in 27 games since being promoted, but he has hit seven homers -- including an inside-the-park homer on Thursday night as he went 2-for-4. With Dominic Smith expected to head back down to the minors Friday night, a door could be opening soon for Alonso at the big league level...

The Mets have gotten to the point of exchanging names with teams on potential Jeurys Familia trades, reports SNY's Andy Martino.

Martino adds that nothing is imminent but to bet on Familia moving well before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.

Seven-to-eight teams have shown varying degrees of interest in Familia, and plenty of scouts will be on hand to see him tonight when the Mets face the Yankees in the Bronx. 

The Mets lost two of three games to the Yankees in their Subway Series in early June at Citi Field. They look for revenge coming out of the All-Star break in the Bronx.

Though the Mets have the second-worst record in the National League and face the Yankees, who have the second-best record in baseball, whoever wins this weekend's series will be the toast of the town, at least for the weekend.

Here is how each team stacks up for this weekend's three-game series.

Jacob deGrom's agent fired a shot at the Mets during the All-Star break, basically telling them to trade him now or sign him to a long-term extension. And the whole thing was carefully orchestrated by Team deGrom, SNY's Andy Martino explained Wednesday on SNY's Shea Anything podcast.

DeGrom later said he'd love to stay with the Mets for the rest of his career, but his agent's reveal was carefully planned.

"Jacob deGrom is not somebody who likes to be in the limelight," explained Martino, who detailed how deGrom responded the next day when asked about the timing of his agent's comments, which came minutes before deGrom was set to meet the masses at All-Star media day...

Trade rumors have been swirling around Mets All-Star RHP Jacob deGrom long before his agent said Monday that the Mets should "seriously consider" trading his client now if they aren't serious about signing him to a long-term extension.

So, what would it take to convince the Mets to consider trading deGrom? ESPN's Jesse Rogers looked at the question from the Cubs' perspective and sought advice from front office sources across the league.

The consensus was a package surrounding SS Addison Russell, OF Ian Happ and RHP Mike Montgomery...

After what was the team hoped to be a run at winning the NL East in 2018, the Mets have become sellers ahead of the trade deadline. One name oft-rumored: Noah Syndergaard.

The 25-year-old recently returned from the DL on July 13, after being out since May, and hasn't had a chance for his season to properly get off the ground. Syndergaard's injury misfortunes have played a part in the Mets disappointing season, leading them to evaluate all avenues to improve. One of those routes may be a rebuild...

Do the Mets need to acquire a first baseman this winter? Or, do they have enough internal options to make the position work in 2019?

Justin Smoak, Matt Adams, Marwin Gonzalez, and Logan Morrison are expected to be the top first basemen available on the free agent market this winter. It's too early to know if anyone better will be available and more affordable in trade.

That said, the Mets have at least five internal options worth considering, though no one candidate is perfect given the team's need to improve its fielding and power at the plate...

Andy Martino, SNY.tv | Twitter |

After the Padres traded lefthander Brad Hand to Cleveland on Thursday, teams seeking to add or shed relievers expect that market to accelerate rapidly, in ways that will impact both New York teams.

Baltimore's Zach Britton, in whom the Yankees have shown interest, will be traded soon, according to major league sources. Scouts have determined that he is healthy, and the Orioles don't want to wait. As many as 8-10 teams are in on Britton.

Jeurys Familia has slightly less value, in the estimation of many scouts, but will be traded before long. Interested teams consider it unlikely that the Mets will get back a top-ten prospect, but there will be several teams bidding on Familia. Multiple teams will send scouts to Yankee Stadium Friday specifically to see Familia

In the second installment of Throwback Thursday, Mets OF Brandon Nimmo talks about how excited he is to be at Citi Field for the 2013 Futures Game.

Danny Abriano, SNY.tv | Twitter |

Coming off a 70-92 season in 2017, the Mets signed a slew of second-tier free agents while gearing up for what they hoped would be a third postseason appearance in four seasons.

The results have been almost impossibly bad, with each of their five key free agent signings having arguably the worst season of their career...

Mets RHP Robert Gsellman can finally rejoice -- his Xbox has returned. 

It was Gsellman's birthday on Wednesday, and fellow pitcher Noah Syndergaard decided to gift -- or should I say return -- Gsellman's Xbox to him. Gsellman, though, didn't think it should be considered a gift from Thor.

CLICK BELOW TO SEE THE TWEET

Recent Mets first-round pick Jarred Kelenic, who has had pitchers ducking for cover since making his professional debut, has cracked Baseball America's Top 100 Prospects list -- joining two other Mets.

The 18-year-old Kelenic (No. 81 on the list), debuted for the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Mets last month before a quick promotion to Kingsport.

Kelenic joins High-A St. Lucie SS Andres Gimenez (No. 68), and Triple-A Las Vegas 1B Peter Alonso (No. 77)...

Yoenis Cespedes recently told the Mets he'd be willing to learn to play first base, and he played nine innings at the position on Wednesday in his third rehab game (while hitting a three-run homer), keeping him on track for a potential return Friday against the Yankees in the Bronx. 

Cespedes had already been taking ground balls at first base, and the situation was addressed last week by Mickey Callaway, who said the expectation was that Cespedes would return as a left fielder. 

I've seen Cespedes often taking ground balls at third base and shortstop during spring training and before games. He's adept with the glove and we know he has a terrific arm. But, I have no idea how he'd handle the unique footwork, stretching and understanding of situational positioning that comes with playing first base...

Mets RHP Jacob deGrom pitched the third inning and allowed a home run in the MLB All-Star game on Tuesday night at Nationals Park.

DeGrom entered in relief of NL starter Max Scherzer and retired the first two batters to face him before Mike Trout homered to left field. DeGrom struck out J.D. Martinez for the third out.

Playing in his second MLB All-Star game, deGrom threw 15 pitches, 10 of which were strikes. He was replaced in the fourth inning by Braves RHP Mike Foltynewicz.

Jacob deGrom's agent said Monday that the Mets should "seriously consider" trading his client now if they aren't serious about signing him to a long-term extension.

DeGrom said Monday that he was open to a long-term deal, and told SNY on Tuesday what he would do if the Mets were to come to him with a proposal.

"That's a tough question," deGrom said. "I'd have to sit down and talk to my family and my agent and stuff and just see what numbers would be right. Like I've said, I love playing here. I've enjoyed my time, and I want to win baseball games for the New York Mets."

SNY's Andy Martino recently said Zack Wheeler, Asdrubal Cabrera, and Jeurys Familia are the most likely players to be traded by the Mets before the end of this month.

Teams will almost certainly also have interest in acquiring Jerry Blevins, but that is more likely to happen through waivers during August.

Initially, I thought Todd Frazier and Anthony Swarzak would be attractive through waivers as well, but I'm starting to think they stay put because the Mets will seemingly attempt to contend in 2019...

If the players had their way, the DH might come to the NL sooner rather than later. MLBA chief Tony Clark said Tuesday that the idea is "gaining momentum."

"Players are talking about it more than they have in the past," Clark added, per MLB.com's Mark Feinsand. 

While the players might be open to adding the DH to the NL -- 45 years after the AL adopted it -- MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said there has been a change in thinking but that "the most likely outcome remains the status quo."

If they're going to play Moneyball in New York, why don't the Mets hire A's GM Billy Beane?

To be accurate, Beane is no longer Oakland's GM. Instead, he's their Executive Vice President and oversees David Forst, who has been his GM since 2016.

That said, according to people who know, covered and are friends with Beane, there isn't enough money or freedom a team could offer to get him to leave Oakland. They say he's a casual, laid back guy who comes and goes as he pleases, who loves wearing shorts to work and adores the Bay Area.

The same year he burst on the scene, 19-year-old Mets flamethrower Dwight Gooden made his first All-Star Game appearance. As the youngest person to ever participate in an All-Star Game, Gooden struck out the side at Candlestick Park in San Francisco.

Pitching with future teammate Gary Carter (then with the Expos) behind the plate, Gooden got Lance Parrish swinging at a high fastball for his first strikeout, and got Chet Lemon swinging on a fastball at the belt. Gooden then closed things out by fanning Alvin Davis -- also swinging. 

Click below to see...

All season long, Fios, the 100% fiber-optic network, is bringing superfans closer to their Mets thanever before.

Not only do you get an amazin' HD picture so every game feels like you're in Citi Field, but now, every Tuesday home games, Fios customers can enter for a chance to win Mets tickets, exclusive access and experiences at Citi Field through the SNY Superfan Sweepstakes, courtesy of Fios.

For official rules and to enter, visit sny.tv/fios.  

No purchase necessary.

Gary, Keith and Ron take a look at how the triples of Amed Rosario and Tanner Roark compare to one another on Science of Baseball presented by Memorial Sloan Kettering.

Join the Mets and Memorial Sloan Kettering as we team up to Strike Out Cancer. Visit http://giving.mskcc.org/mets to learn more about the K's for Cancer program and your chance to donate.

It was five years ago tonight that Matt Harvey got the start for the National League as the All-Star Game was played at Citi Field.

The day before, then-prospect Noah Syndergaard represented the Mets and was the starting pitcher for Team USA during MLB's Futures Game. As expected, Syndergaard looked poised and aggressive on the mound, throwing one scoreless inning.

Brandon Nimmo, who started on the bench for Team USA, went hitless during two at-bats.

WASHINGTON -- If the Mets and Jacob deGrom do not agree on a contract extension before this winter, deGrom wants to be traded.

That's my takeaway from the situation that unfolded during All-Star workout day, after deGrom's agent Brodie Van Wagenen opened the availability for N.L. players with pointed comments to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal. 

So where will this ultimately lead? I asked one well-placed source to predict. "Trade in the offseason," the source said.
What follows is reported from conversations with sources on all sides...

Jacob deGrom's agent said Monday that if the Mets aren't serious about signing deGrom to a long-term extension, they should seriously consider trading him now. 

"We have discussed Jacob's future with the Mets at length," CAA's Brodie Van Wagenen told Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. "Jacob has expressed interest in exploring a long-term partnership that would keep him in a Mets uniform for years to come. If the Mets don't share same interest, we believe their best course of action is to seriously consider trade opportunities now. The inertia of current situation could complicate Jacob's relationship with the club and creates an atmosphere of indecision."

The 30-year-old deGrom is making $7.4 million this season and is arbitration-eligible in 2019 and 2020 before being eligible for free agency after the 2020 season...

What was expected for the last few weeks became official on Monday: Mets ace Jacob deGrom will not be starting the All-Star Game for the National League, with the nod going to Nationals ace Max Scherzer instead. 

DeGrom, whose 1.68 ERA is the best in baseball and dwarfs Scherzer's 2.41 ERA, wanted the start. But with the game being at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., it went to Scherzer -- much like the start at Citi Field in 2013 went to Matt Harvey over Clayton Kershaw.

"Jacob deGrom has had a great first half, but for me I always try to make things bigger than me," NL manager Dave Roberts said, later adding that "for me, the tiebreaker was the ballpark."

The season after winning the Rookie of the Year award, the Mets' Jacob deGrom got his first All-Star Game nod. And his one inning of work during the 2015 Midsummer Classic stole the show.

DeGrom came one pitch short of an "immaculate inning" when he struck out the side on 10 pitches at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati.

Click below to watch...

Mets 1B prospect Peter Alonso crushed a homer so high and so hard at the Futures Game on Sunday that it made Statcast records. And it got the attention of Team USA manager Torii Hunter.

"That's unbelievable power," Hunter said, according to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. "I saw Mark McGwire hit like that; so high and so far. Great at-bat, runner in scoring position, and he wanted to get that hit. He dug deep and battled, fought off some tough pitches until he got the fastball he wanted." 

Alonso's homer sailed high and deep to left field, with a 46 degree launch angle and an exit velocity of 113.6 MPH...

Mets prospect Tim Tebow has confirmed he is dating the 2017 Miss Universe winner, Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters, per ESPN. 

It is unknown how long they've been together, but the 23-year-old Nel-Peters has been seen together recently in pictures with the former NFL quarterback. 

"She is a really special girl and I am very lucky and blessed for her coming into my life," Tebow said. "I am usually very private with these things but I am very thankful."

This season, thanks to Citi, each time the home run apple goes up at Citi Field, another step is taken in the fight against childhood hunger.

For each Mets home run hit at Citi Field this season, Citi has pledged to donate enough for No Kid Hungry to provide 20,000 meals to kids in need in NYC and throughout the U.S. Learn more about the Citi Community Home Runs program at Mets.com/Citi.  

Mets RHP Jacob deGrom is the only pitcher in baseball with an ERA under 2.00.

And as much as he may deserve to start Tuesday's All-Star Game, he understands he might not get the nod over a hometown favorite.

While the Nationals' Max Scherzer is tied for the National League lead with 12 wins and ranks fourth in ERA, deGrom hopes he gets the chance to start the All-Star Game in Washington, D.C.

Mets first baseman Peter Alonso hit a monster two-run home run to left field that almost left Nationals Park in Sunday's Futures Game.

"It felt like a lightning bolt hit the sweet spot of my bat," Alonso said. "It felt immaculate."

After putting on a clinic in batting practice, Alonzo went 1-for-2 off the bench, hitting a Jorge Guzman fastball well over the left-field fence in the seventh inning that gave Team USA a 9-6 lead.

Despite leaving Sunday's game and undergoing X-rays on his right hand, Mets infielder Asdrubal Cabrera expects to be healthy once the All-Star break ends.

Cabrera left Sunday's game after the seventh inning after he attempted to barehand a wild Anthony Swarzak pickoff throw, though X-rays came back negative.

He said his hand is swollen but believes he will be ready to play on Friday when the Mets open the second half with a three-game series against the Yankees.

The Mets' bullpen allowed the Nationals to score five runs in the top of the seventh en route to a 6-1 loss Sunday afternoon.

Mets first baseman prospect Peter Alonso didn't appear in Sunday's Futures Game until the fifth inning, but before the game, he put on a clinic.

Alonso, who has hit 21 home runs in 88 games across the Double-A and Triple-A levels this season, put on a show during batting practice. He competed with five players in a pregame contest: the Reds' Taylor Trammell, Brewers' Keston Hiura, Cardinals' Andrew Knizner and Orioles' Ryan Mountcastle.

And Alonso won.