Terry Collins steps down as Mets manager, saying 'it's been a blast'

— -- Terry Collins says he is leaving as New York Mets manager after seven seasons.

Collins made the announcement after Sunday's 11-0 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies.?

"I wouldn't say I'm resigning, I'm stepping down for sure," he said. "It's been a blast. But it's time."

When Collins and Phillies manager Pete Mackanin exchanged lineup cards at home plate, the two men hugged before walking away.

There had no indication that the team was going to extend Collins deal, which ended with the season's end. Collins, 68, had earlier said that he didn't plan on retiring.

Collins had said he would like to keep working until age 70, even if it meant somewhere else in baseball.

On Friday, Newsday reported that owner Fred Wilpon repeatedly protected Collins from being fired, even as his son, Jeff Wilpon, the team's chief operating officer, and general manager Sandy Alderson sought his dismissal on several occasions during Collins' seven-year tenure.

The Mets followed up their 2015 trip to the World Series with an 87-75 mark last year, losing to the San Francisco Giants in the wild-card game, but the bottom fell out this year, with injuries wreaking havoc on the roster.?He has managed more games than anyone else in Mets history and ranks second to Davey Johnson (595) in wins.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.?