Anonymous Mets Say Strawberry Was Drinking

Two of Darryl Strawberry’s former New York Met teammates claim the all-star outfielder began drinking again late last season, less than six months after rehabilitation for alcohol abuse, according to a published report.

Newsday, in its Sunday editions, said two Mets--not identified--told the newspaper that Strawberry drank beer in the clubhouse and took hard liquor to his hotel room on road trips.

Eric Goldschmidt, the agent who negotiated Strawberry’s five-year, $20.25-million free-agent contract with the Dodgers last week, denied the allegations.

“There are a lot of bitter and jealous people out there,” Goldschmidt told the Associated Press on Sunday night. “We don’t worry when others say things like that.”

Dodger Vice President Fred Claire told Newsday, “We would not have signed Darryl if we did not have confidence in him.”