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Mets, Yankees rumors: Travis d’Arnaud, Joe Girardi on the way out? – Metro US
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Mets, Yankees rumors: Travis d’Arnaud, Joe Girardi on the way out?

Mets, Yankees rumors: Travis d’Arnaud, Joe Girardi on the way out?
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Here’s a look at the news from Mets and Yankees training camps down in Florida.

d’Arnaud’s days numbered in Queens?

John Harper has reported that Mets brass is losing patience with Travis d’Arnaud and may look for help at catcher at the trade deadline. Per Harper: “The Mets…haven’t been thrilled with his pitch-calling at times over the last couple of seasons. And last year his confidence crumbled as his game fell apart offensively and defensively.”

d’Arnaud has been working with new catching instructor Glenn Sherlock and hitting coach Kevin Long in an attempt to salvage his once promising career that’s been derailed by injuries.

“[d’Arnaud] just got away from some stuff that had been really beneficial for him in the past,” Long told reporters when asked to explain d’Arnaud’s disastrous 2016. “We’re trying to…get him to repeat the same swing every day. Travis can change like the wind at times.”

Walker wants to stay

Neil Walker accepted a one-year, $17 million qualifying offer to stay with the Mets rather than sign elsewhere this offseason. And though nothing is guaranteed beyond this year, Walker says he would like to remain a Met.

RELATED: Mets, Yankees spring training notebook

When asked about signing an extension, Walker told reporters, “nothing has come to fruition just yet, but it doesn’t mean something won’t happen.”

He continued, “For me, looking at this, this is where I want to be. Looking at what’s here and the potential [of the] next two, three, four years…this is an exciting place to be as a big league ballplayer.”

Will Girardi jump ship?

Yankees manager Joe Girardi is in the last year of his contract, but club owner Hal Steinbrenner hasn’t even discussed an extension with his skipper.

“Joe is one of many people in this organization that have contracts, and I treat them all the same,” Steinbrenner told the New York Times. “We just have too many other things to focus on. He knows that. I’m sure we’ll be talking maybe toward the end of the year, but right now, there’s a lot more things to be worried about.”

Girardi was diplomatic regarding the issue when addressing reporters last week.

“It really doesn’t impact me,” he said. “I’m going to do my job the same way and what I believe is the right way to do it. They don’t extend managers, as long as I can remember, during the course of a season. So I’ll go do my job and see and whatever happens. Let’s go play it out.”

Through nine seasons, Girardi has guided the Bombers to a 819-639 record with one World Series victory (2009).

All systems ‘go’ for Gardner

Brett Gardner has been the subject of trade rumors for some time now, but he’s ready to begin the 2017 season as the longest-tenured Yankee on the roster.

“On one hand, obviously I don’t want to get traded,” Gardner told reporters. “But, on the other hand, the fact that maybe some other teams have interest in me, I see that as a compliment. But I don’t want to play anywhere else. I want to be here.”

Gardner added, “It feels like yesterday I was praying not to get sent back across the street to minor-league camp. I guess it’s pretty cool. It’s something that I definitely cherish and don’t take lightly.”