To watch Berg’s three-interview with Floyd, click play below:

Difelice spent three of his 13 major league season with the Mets from 2005 to 2007.

Topkin also notes former Mets OF Cliff Floyd signed a one-year deal with the Padres.

Floyd hit .268 with 11 HR and 39 RBI in 80 games as a designated hitter for the Rays this season.

Also in the New York Post, Dan Martinez talks with free-agent-to-be Oliver Perez, who says, “This is the team that gave me the second opportunity to come back to the majors and I was really happy, but I have to look at everything and see what team gives me the best opportunity to win.”

…was happy…best opportunity to win…ouch…

In the Bergen Record, John Rowe dishes out end-of-the-year grades to to each player on the Mets, including an A for Johan Santana and an F for Aaron Heilman.

As long as talk-radio intends to push the idea of trading David Wright or Jose Reyes, David Lennon wonders on his blog for Newsday whether the Yankees should then consider trading Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter.

Lastly, speaking of Wright and Reyes, in the New York Post, Mike Vaccaro explains why the Mets should not trade them, while pulling from history and Gil Hodges in 1955.

According to Hollander, wherever Floyd goes, his teams are impacted ‘as if before Floyd got there not only weren’t they winning but his teams appeared to have little idea how to win.’

Hollander breaks down the following examples of the Floyd Factor:

Marlins: In 1996, the team was 80-82, finishing 3rd in the NL East. Floyd joins the team in 1997. They go 92-70 and win the World Series.

Mets: In 2001, the team was 75-86, finishing 5th in the NL East. Floyd joins the club in 2003. Three seasons later the Mets are one strike away from going to the World Series.

Cubs: In 2006, the team was 66-96, finishing last in the NL Central. Floyd joins the team in 2007 and they go 85-77, winning the NL Central.

Rays: Since their inception in 1998, this franchise has only finished above last place in their division once. They have never won more than 70 games in a season, and reached that meager total but once. Floyd joins the team this season and they are leading AL East through the first third of the season. Their record has been at times the best in baseball.

Floyd typically doesn’t carry teams, nor is he the best player, however there is something about his presence which Hollander sums up the best by stating:

“You can’t measure a conversation that instructs or motivates or takes pressure off. You can’t quantify a well timed joke that eases tension in the clubhouse. Or a look that reassures. Or a skillful deflection of the media away from a player who can’t handle it. Or a million other little things that go into the relationships that are bonded over the course of season together. These are the human qualities that elude objective statistical analysis. But they’re crucial to creating a winning team. In order to win, especially to win a championship, it’s not simply about being the best player but about making other teammates play better.”

…this is a great read…uncle cliffy was one of my favorite Mets…i never realized he had such an impact for the teams he played on…i guess that is why, if i remember correctly, many of the players, including David Wright, wanted him back in 2007.

…by the way…is there evidence of him being able to resuscitate a team twice…

The 35-year-old Floyd batted .284 with nine homers and 45 RBIs in 108 games for the Chicago Cubs this season.

…keep on truckin’ uncle cliffy…

In 108 games for the Cubs this past season, Floyd hit .284 with nine HR and 45 RBI, while striking out only 12 times more than he walked. 

Floyd missed time last season for a variety of aches and pains, such as in his shoulder, ankle and arm, which needed a cortisone injection.

In early October, Floyd told the Chicago Sun-Times that he will return to baseball next season only if he can be a starter.  However, today, Floyd tells the Sun-Times that he is ‘fired up’ about playing next year.

Floyd will seek a one-year, $3 million deal, similar to what he earned with the Cubs last season, according to a recent report in the Palm Beach Post.

…i know there will be Mets fans who want floyd back at shea, to serve as a platoon for Lastings Milledge and Moises Alou, who will certainly be hurt at some point during next season…it’s not a terrible idea, it’s just that he’s as much of an injury risk as alou, if not more - and there is no guarantee they won’t both be hurt at the same time…i miss cliff as much as the next nostalgic fan, but he’s not the future, he’s part of this team’s past…this ship has got to keep moving forward…

According to previous reports, Floyd could retire, having spent roughly 40 percent of the last two seasons on the disabled list.

Floyd will seek a one-year, $3 million deal, similar to what he earned with the Cubs last year, writes Capozzi.

…i know there will be Mets fans who want floyd back at shea, to serve as a platoon for Lastings Milledge and Moises Alou, who will certainly be hurt at some point during next season…it’s not a terrible idea, it’s just that he’s as much of an injury risk as alou, if not more…i miss cliff as much as the next nostalgic fan, but he’s not the future…this ship has got to keep moving forward…

…honestly, i hope cliff retires, and dedicates himself to the Cliff Floyd Foundation, which, from what he had told me, will be about inner-city development, youth-baseball programs and teaching children about hard work, responsibility and discipline…