Mets INF Wilmer Flores may be enjoying recent success at the plate, but is that a bad thing if he wants to stay in New York?
Normally this would be the opposite, however, the Mets don't have playoff hopes on the horizon which means they could trade off assets that are performing well.
The last time Flores thought he was traded away nearly three years ago, he cried in front of Mets fans as he didn't want to leave the only team he has known in the MLB. That sentiment has not changed for Flores.
"I don't want to go anywhere," he told The Post's Mike Puma before Wednesday night's win over the Blue Jays.
Flores may not have a choice this time around, though. The 26-year-old has been lighting it up at the dish over the last seven games, owning a .321/.345/.607 slash line with two homers and five RBI. Overall, he is hitting .264/.323/.460 with seven homers and 27 RBI in 64 games.
Manager Mickey Callaway has been playing Flores at first, even though Dominic Smith is up on the roster. Flores' versatility and ability to put together good at-bats is the reason Callaway always tries to have him in the lineup.
"I just think he really got into the flow of things -- no pun intended," Callaway said, referencing Flores' "Flo" moniker. "But he is a guy that goes out there and puts together good at-bats and he's been a traditionally slow starter and he is starting to really come around and we need him in the lineup."
Flores could very well fit into another lineup across the league, and more specifically, one that can contend when October rolls around. But Flores isn't interested in that, knowing the Mets have a chance to contend themselves down the road.
"Maybe we won't make the playoffs this year, but I know in the years coming we are going to have a chance," Flores said. "You're going to have a bad year. But in 2014 we had a bad year and then 2015 we had a good year and then 2016 we made the playoffs again. I know this team is going to be there again."
So, what should Flores do about these trade rumors swilring around him again? Callaway believes it is best for Flores -- and all of the Mets players that have been connected to trades -- to embrace them.
"It's good when you are a player and your name gets brought up, because it means you are performing and that other teams want you," Callaway said. "It's good motivation and it should make you feel good and give you confidence that you are performing where other teams want you and go from there."
Many players would love the chance to flip to a contender midseason. But Flores, just as his emotions showed that night at Citi Field, wants to be in it for the long haul.