The Mets wanted to keep their first-base coach. Their first-base coach wanted to stay. But now, after negotiations fell apart, Antoan Richardson is going to a National League rival.

Atlanta Wednesday announced that they hired Richardson, whose contract with the Mets just expired, to be their first-base coach, along with former Mets pitching coach Jeremy Hefner, who was relieved of his duties during last month’s purge .

Richardson, highly lauded for the team’s prolific success at stealing bases this year, denied an SNY report saying he had no interest in returning. Instead, it came down to salary.

“I was very interested in returning to the Mets, but during the negotiation process, we weren’t fully aligned on how we viewed my value,” Richardson said via text. “I have great respect for

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