BASEBALL Cliff Floyd finalizes pact with Mets
He passed a physical examination to seal his $16 million, four-year contract.
NEW YORK (AP) -- Cliff Floyd passed his physical Saturday, finalizing his $26 million, four-year contract with the New York Mets.
Floyd agreed in principle to the deal Friday. The contract was completed after the physical conducted by Mets team physician Dr. Andrew Rokito.
The Mets will hold a news conference on Monday at Shea Stadium to officially announce the deal.
Floyd is the third big free-agent acquisition for the Mets this off-season as they try to bounce back from a last-place finish in 2002.
The Mets signed left-hander Tom Glavine to a $35 million, three-year deal, making him the ace of their staff. The team also bolstered its bullpen by signing lefty Mike Stanton to a $9 million, three-year contract.
Should aid offense
But it was the offense that needed the most help, and Floyd should provide a big boost. He batted .288 with 28 homers, 43 doubles and 79 RBIs last season for Florida, Montreal and Boston. He had a .388 on-base percentage and slugged .533.
He will be a major upgrade over Roger Cedeno or Jeromy Burnitz in one of the corner outfield spots. The Mets could deal Cedeno or Burnitz, with Texas and Colorado as the leading possibilities, or move Cedeno to center field to make room for Floyd.
New York was last in the majors in batting average in right field and second-to-last in the NL in both homers and RBIs in left field. That was a big reason they were 13th in the league in scoring.
Floyd struggled with injuries early in his career but has played 295 games in the last two seasons. He is a .284 career hitter with 132 homers and 508 RBIs in 908 games.