Mets Break Off Talks With Piazza

The boos and rumors surrounding catcher Mike Piazza prompted the New York Mets to announce Wednesday that they won’t talk contract with the all-star catcher until October. Not that they’ve talked all that much. The Mets reportedly have yet to make him an offer.

“We don’t want the contract to get in the way of what we’re trying to do as a team and as a unit,” General Manager Steve Phillips said.

Piazza, traded from the Dodgers to Florida in May and acquired by the Mets a week later, is eligible to become a free agent after the season. Before being traded from the Dodgers, Piazza, turned down an $85 million, six-year offer from the Dodgers.

He is batting .329 with 10 homers and 28 RBIs since joining the Mets, but has been booed extensively. He entered Wednesday’s game batting only .211 (12 for 57) with runners on second or third base or both.

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Houston’s Craig Biggio sat out Wednesday’s game against Florida, ending his three-year streak of 494 consecutive games, second only to Cal Ripken among active players. . . . Astro reliever Billy Wagner, struck in the head by a line drive on July 15, pitched three shutout innings in a four-day rehabilitation assignment at double-A Jackson, Miss. . . . The Atlanta Braves agreed to terms on minor league contracts with left-handed reliever Norm Charlton, released by Baltimore, and right-hander Paul Wagner, released by the Milwaukee Brewers. . . . The Chicago Cubs exercised options on the contracts of General Manager Ed Lynch and Manager Jim Riggleman for 1999. . . . Pete Rose Jr. signed a contract with the New Jersey Jackals of the Northeast League.