Last year at this time, Wilmer Flores was showing us how much he didn't want to leave New York. This year, it appears the Mets infielder wouldn't be all that sad if he had to move on.
Flores is back on the bench after a productive month as the team's regular third baseman. The lack of at-bats has him pondering his future.
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“I know that my time will come, if it’s here or somewhere else,” Flores told Newsday on Tuesday prior to the team's game at Wrigley Field. “But I know my time will come. Right now, I’m just doing what I have to do whenever I’m in there.”
Flores, 24, has shifted back to a platoon/utility role since the arrival of Jose Reyes on July 5. He was in the lineup Monday against Cubs left-hander Jon Lester and homered for the Mets' only run in a 5-1 loss. That gave the right-handed hitter six home runs in July. He sat Tuesday night against Chicago ace right-hander Jake Arrieta.
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Flores was a pivotal figure in the Mets' run to the National League title last season. His emotional response to hearing he and Zack Wheeler had been traded to the Brewers for Carlos Gomez last July 29 made him a sympathetic figure. When the deal fell through, Flores became even more of a fan favorite.
Twelve months later, Flores is feeling a different way.
