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Roger Cede�o, the New York Mets' sweet-swinging, basestealing outfielder, is baseball's most improved player this year, and he feels it's because he has been liberated. "I'm free," he says. "Finally."

Cede�o broke into the majors in 1995 as a 20-year-old switch-hitter and was soon touted as the Los Angeles Dodgers' center-fielder for years to come. While the restraints put upon him were not unusual (the Dodgers were quick to bench Cede�o when he struggled, and they reined him in on the bases), they caused him to put greater pressure on himself. By the time he was traded to New York last December, Cede�o had spun his wheels for four years, and many wondered if he would ever get on track.

"In Los Angeles if I had a bad day, they'd sit me down," Cede�o says. "I went up every time thinking, I have to get a hit. Here, if I go 0 for 4, I'll be back in the next day, and I'll go to the plate knowing I'm going to get a hit."

Result: In 687 at bats with L.A., Cede�o batted .252. Going into this year's All-Star break, he was leading the Mets at .332.

"In Los Angeles, I wasn't allowed to steal unless they gave me the sign," Cede�o says. "When I did run I was saying to myself, Uh-oh, I hope I don't get caught. Here, [ Mets manager] Bobby Valentine gave me the green light right away. I look at second base and say, I'm going to get you."

Result: In his Dodgers career Cede�o had 23 stolen bases. At this year's break he was leading the majors, with 46.

"One time in Los Angeles, I misjudged a fly ball and made a bad throw," Cede�o continues. "When I came back to the dugout, one of the coaches screamed at me that if I didn't do it right, I'd be out of there. Next inning I'm thinking, I hope they don't hit it to me. This year I misplayed a fly ball, and [ Mets coach] Mookie Wilson just put his arm around me and told me to stay aggressive. I went out and started diving for balls."

Result: As a Dodger, Cede�o had seven career assists. As a Met he had eight at midseason and had become a force.

At the start of spring training Cede�o was not even assured of a roster spot, yet Valentine and his coaches told him that he could bunt when he wanted, swing for power when he wanted, run when he wanted. He was free. "We do that with a lot of players. Some respond and some don't," says Valentine. "He responded better than we ever hoped. And he's getting better."

If Cede�o even keeps his game near its current level, fans may look back at the three-team trade involving the Mets, Dodgers and Baltimore Orioles as one of the best in New York's history. Cede�o and closer Armando Benitez came at the cost of catcher Todd Hundley, who has struggled with L.A., and minor league pitcher Arnold Gooch. Says Mets catcher Mike Piazza, who also was a teammate of Cede�o's with the Dodgers, "Roger wasn't relaxed in Los Angeles. Now he is, and he's had as much impact on the lineup as anyone."