Cliff

Floyd

The Achilles’ tendon has bothered Floyd for a while, but yesterday was the first game he missed due to the wrist, which was originally hurt June 11.

Floyd still hopes to return before the All-Star break, although there’s no reason not to give him another week off with all his aches and pains.

Floyd, who will get today off, is leaning toward having surgery before the end of the season, allowing him to go into next year at 100 percent.

Floyd might have a better chance at staying healthy at first (though it didn’t exactly work out that way for Mike Piazza), but the Mets aren’t high on his defense there. “I’m not sure I would characterize him as good,” GM Jim Duquette said. The Mets are believed to be considering free agents Magglio Ordonez and Carlos Delgado, which may be a further indication they will seek to trade Mike Piazza to an AL team in the offseason.

Floyd has a muscle strain under his right arm and is day-to-day. Reserve him this week.

The injury is affecting Floyd’s swing and his activity on the basepaths. ''I’m worried a little bit,’' he said. ''It affects everything. I’ve just got to try to figure out a way to make it work.’' Floyd could miss some additional time with the injury.

Assuming he’s not included in the trade, David Dellucci would become the Rangers’ fourth outfielder if Floyd were acquired. Floyd would be a DH. It doesn’t seem very likely that a trade will get done. The Rangers will want the Mets to eat salary, and for the Mets, there are no longer any alternatives to Floyd in free agency.

Floyd said he was fine. He was already scheduled to receive today off, but he should be back tomorrow.

Tuesday’s game against the Giants at Shea remains a possibity, even though Floyd has yet to play in a minor-league rehab game.

Today had been considered a possibility for Floyd’s return, but he’s still in Florida rehabbing his quad.