BASEBALL Cliff Floyd will try to help Mets turn around their offense next season

The slugging outfielder is the Mets' third big free-agent acquisition after the team finished in last place.
NEW YORK (AP) -- Cliff Floyd was as baffled as anyone about the New York Mets' disappointing 2002 season.
The team is counting on the slugging outfielder to help turn their fortunes next season.
Floyd signed a $26 million, four-year contract with the Mets last week as the team upgraded its offense to go with an improved pitching staff.
"I wondered why they didn't win," Floyd said Monday. "I wondered what was going on. It doesn't take much when things go bad to fall into the losing habit.
"But there's no reason we shouldn't be at the top of the NL East at the end of the season."
The third catch
Floyd is the third big free-agent acquisition for the Mets after a last-place finish. They 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.
"I just knew this was a great place for me to come," Floyd said. "With the team adding the guys they have, we can be where we need to be in the NL East. This is a great place for me."
Floyd gives the Mets their most feared left-handed bat in the outfield since Darryl Strawberry left Shea Stadium more than a decade ago.
Floyd 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.
New dimension
"Cliff certainly adds a whole different element to our offense than what we had a year ago," Mets general manager Steve Phillips said. "If the guys who struggled last year play to their average performance or close to that, we should be a much better team offensively."
Floyd will be a major upgrade in left field. Roger Cedeno is slated to move to center field and Timo Perez will be a reserve. The Mets also could still trade either Cedeno or right fielder Jeromy Burnitz.
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 and finished 75-86.
Floyd's presence should take some pressure off Mike Piazza, who too often was the only threat in the middle of the Mets' lineup. Floyd struggled with injuries early in his career but has played 295 games the last two seasons. He will get a $6.5 million salary in each season of the deal. He has full no-trade protection in the first year of the contract and can choose 10 teams he won't be traded to in the final three years.