End of the road?

Henderson placed on waivers, his Mets future uncertain

Posted: Wednesday May 10, 2000 07:37 AM NEW YORK (AP) -- Rickey Henderson's bumpy run with the New York Mets could be coming to an end. A day after being placed on waivers, Henderson was in the starting lineup Tuesday night at Pittsburgh. But there was no telling how long he'd stay in the leadoff spot - or with the Mets, for that matter. General manager Steve Phillips called Henderson into the vacant manager's office at Three Rivers Stadium and closed the door for a brief chat before warmups. "Steve told me I have Mets logo on my shirt and I'm in there tonight," Henderson said. "I don't worry about it." Phillips, who talked to the Detroit Tigers about a trade involving Bobby Higginson during spring training, would not confirm whether the slumping and unhappy Henderson, 41, had been put on waivers. A baseball source, however, told The Associated Press the Mets had put baseball's career stolen base leader on waivers Monday. If claimed during the current waiver period, which runs through July 31, the Mets could withdraw the waiver request and keep the left fielder. If the Mets do not protect him, another club would be responsible for about $1.6 million remaining on his 2000 contract. "I don't anticipate releasing Rickey Henderson," Phillips said. "I think what I'd say to him is don't get caught up in all the nonsense." By best estimates, more than half of all major leaguers are put on waivers during each of the two waiver periods, which run from the 31st day of the regular season to July 31, and then from Aug. 1 to Nov. 10. This doesn't include special waivers, which are used to release a player or send him outright to the minor leagues. Teams often place players on waivers to gauge whether there is any interest in a trade. Last year, the Mets created a stir when they placed outfielders Bobby Bonilla and Brian McRae on waivers for the second time during the same period. The Mets automatically would have lost either player if they had been claimed, but they were not. The Mets outfield is overcrowded with the likes of Derek Bell, Melvin Mora, Jay Payton and others. Henderson is hitting only .205 with two RBIs and two stolen bases, and has been booed at Shea Stadium because of a perceived lack of hustle. Henderson is unhappy with his contract situation, having been turned down for an extension beyond this season. His grousing began early in spring training when he said he did not want to make the 7,400-mile trip to Tokyo for the regular season opener against the Chicago Cubs. Throughout the season, the 10-time All-Star has made no secret of his displeasure. "Nothing has changed with Rickey. Certainly Rickey's recent statements are no different from things he's said previously. Nothing has changed in that regard from day one," Phillips said. "You know what you're dealing with and the pros outweigh the cons," he said. Last year in his first season with the Mets, he hit .315 and his .417 on-base percentage was the best among NL leadoff men. He also stole 37 bases in helping the Mets win the NL wild-card spot. After the Mets lost Game 6 of the NL championship series to Atlanta, however, it was revealed that he'd spent the final few innings in the clubhouse playing cards with Bonilla. Henderson and manager Bobby Valentine have had a prickly relationship. Valentine said he talked to Henderson on Tuesday, adding, "I think he's fine." Henderson has 1,336 career steals. He needs 167 hits to reach 3,000, and has hopes of becoming baseball's career leader in runs scored and walks. "He's gotten off to a slow start, I think he'll acknowledge that," Phillips said. "He got off to a slow start last year also and picked it up." Henderson began his career in 1979 with Oakland. He's had four stints with the Athletics and also played 41/2 seasons for the New York Yankees. Before the Yankees faced Tampa Bay on Tuesday night, manager Joe Torre was asked about Henderson's availability. "That's not supposed to be general knowledge," he laughed. "We're stacked right now."