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Flashback: Marlon Byrd was ready to retire if he didn’t make the Mets

New York Mets v Washington Nationals

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 05: Marlon Byrd #6 of the New York Mets rounds the bases after hitting a two RBI home run in the second inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on June 5, 2013 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

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Marlon Byrd has resurrected his career by hitting .280 with 17 homers and an .832 OPS in 91 games for the Mets, who continue to say that they won’t trade the 35-year-old impending free agent unless they get blown away with an offer.

Whether or not you actually believe that is one thing, but it’s also worth noting that Byrd was just about ready to call it a career back in spring training. He was trying to make the Mets on a minor-league contract and more or less vowed to retire if he failed, saying:

I kind of look at it as a last chance. If I don’t make this team, I don’t see many other chances in baseball. That’s the way I’m playing, like it is my last chance.

Five months later he’s having the best season of his career and the Mets are debating whether trade offers for him are big enough.