Mets deny report about why they're reluctant to recall Amed Rosario

NEW YORK – Both Terry Collins and Asdrubal Cabrera denied Sunday that internal strife has infected the Mets’ clubhouse, following a report by columnist Bob Klapisch of NorthJersey.com that the Mets are reluctant to bring up prized shortstop prospect Amed Rosario because of a potentially toxic situation with Cabrera.

Cabrera was moved to second base on June 23, and immediately requested a trade. Failing that, he wanted the Mets to pick up his option. However, he later backed off those demands, and has played 15 games at the position, including the first seven innings of the Mets’ 13-4 loss to Colorado. He was removed in a double-switch with the Mets trailing by seven.

Klapisch reported Saturday that according to someone familiar with management’s thinking, general manager Sandy Alderson and the Mets’ brass don’t want to put Rosario into an unsettled clubhouse for his first big-league experience.

“That’s the first time I heard something like that,” Collins said after the game. “I don’t know where that came from.

“I’ve said all along I think our clubhouse has very, very good veteran players in it,” Collins said. “Sandy hasn’t brought it up as far as our discussions. … That’s kind of news to me.”

“I’m fine with playing second base,” Cabrera said. “That (trade demand) was weeks ago.”

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Rosario clearly is becoming impatient. He had a tweet last week in which he said, among other things, that he was “On my knees and I Just want to propose to Queens--NY that is.”

Incumbent shortstop Jose Reyes, who keeps in touch with Rosario, indicated the tweet was not sent out by Rosario, but by someone in his camp.

Cespedes’ injury not serious

Yoenis Cespedes sat out Sunday one day after exiting the game with a hip issue, but the Mets were confident that the star left fielder had avoided a more serious injury.

“He's sore,” Mets manager Terry Collins said before the Mets’ 13-4 loss to Colorado. “If I need him to play, he could play. But he's just sore today. We'll give him a day to get some treatment and make sure he's ready for” Monday.

Cespedes already has missed six weeks this season because of a strained left hamstring.

The Mets begin a four-game series against St. Louis on Monday as they continue their 10-game homestand.

“It's frustrating,” Collins said of Cespedes’ injury. “But I'm just glad there's nothing more serious because it sure looked a lot worse than it turned out to be, and we're glad that it's only going to be a day and not a week or a month.”

Collins said Cespedes could have pinch-hit Sunday if necessary.