PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) – New York Mets general manager Sandy Alderson says his long-term prognosis is good as he undergoes cancer treatment.
“I feel very well,” the 68-year-old said Wednesday after arriving at spring training. “I have therapy every couple of weeks, and the side effects have not been significant. Really, since the winter meetings, I’ve been working full time, and I probably could have been at the winter meetings had I not had some sessions scheduled. I feel great. I’m ready to go. I will disappear from here a couple of times during spring training, just to go back to New York for some additional treatment. Otherwise I should be here and 100 percent and ready to go.”
Alderson had not disclosed the type of cancer. He said he was diagnosed “four or five” days after the Mets clinched the NL East title on Sept. 26 at Cincinnati.
“It was a little surreal, having not been to the World Series in 25 years, having never been diagnosed with cancer,” Alderson said. “It was a little bit odd, but the great thing about the postseason is it was a distraction at that time and distractions are always nice.”
Mets pitchers and catchers reported Wednesday coming off their first NL pennant since 2000 and a five-game loss to Kansas City in the World Series. Alderson was hired by the Mets in October 2010 and presided over a turnaround that led to an NL East-best 90-72 record last year, which stopped a streak of six losing seasons.