Loney ready to help Mets chase ultimate goal

NEW YORK — James Loney arrived in the Dodgers’ farm system in 2002 at the age of 17 out of Lawrence E. Elkins High School in Missouri City, Texas, and he was greeted by an unfamiliar face.

At the time, Terry Collins, currently in the midst of his sixth season as the Mets’ manager, was Los Angeles’ field coordinator and would become the Dodgers’ director of player development in 2005 as Loney ascended through the ranks. Fifteen years have passed since their first counter, but the two have reunited in New York after the Mets acquired the first baseman from the Padres for cash considerations on Saturday.

“He made me, basically,” Loney said with a laugh. “He’s been great, though. Over the years, I’ve seen him at different periods of time, and to come to this team, you can just tell that the energy and the vibe here is great.

“I’ve always felt like you want to win, obviously, but you also want to be in that right situation, and I really feel like this is the right situation.”

The Mets’ current situation leaves the club in dire need of corner infielders with both of their regulars dealing with injuries — first baseman Lucas Duda is battling a stress fracture in his lower back, while David Wright is recovering from a herniated disc in his neck.

Enter Loney, who figures to get the majority of the playing time at first while Duda is sidelined (until late June at the earliest).

“He’ll add a nice dimension for us,” Collins …

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