Injuries & Moves: Núñez to IL; Houser, Fujinami DFA'd
LATEST NEWS
July 26: RHP Kodai Senga reinstated from IL; RHP Adrian Houser designated for assignment; RHP Dedniel Núñez (right pronator strain) placed on 15-day IL; RHP Eric Orze recalled from Triple-A Syracuse; RHP Shintaro Fujinami reinstated from IL and designated for assignment
As the Mets welcomed back nominal ace Senga to the rotation to face the Braves on Friday night, the bullpen received quite a shuffle. Núñez, arguably their most consistent reliever this season, went on the injured list with a right pronator strain, while Houser -- who started seven games before shifting to the bullpen and compiled a 5.84 ERA across both roles -- was designated for assignment.
Orze has a 3.40 ERA in 28 games this season for Triple-A Syracuse. He pitched in one game for the Mets on July 8, allowing three runs on two hits and a walk while not retiring a batter in a loss to the Pirates.
Fujinami, a hard-throwing but erratic right-hander, never quite got his sophomore season going after New York signed him in February. While dealing with injuries, Fujinami pitched to an 8.27 ERA in 18 games across four Minor League levels. The Mets DFA'd him because his rehab clock was up, and they would have needed to add him back to the 40-man roster. Fujinami's $3.35 million salary makes him unlikely to be claimed off waivers.
July 26: RHP Kodai Senga to undergo MRI after straining left calf
The Mets expect to know more on the condition of Senga after he undergoes an MRI on his strained left calf on Saturday. Manager Carlos Mendoza said that the team is confident Senga is dealing with a calf strain, however, and not a more serious injury. He hurt his leg Friday moving off the mound in pursuit of a popup in the sixth inning of the Mets' 8-4 win over the Braves. More >
July 26: RHP Ryne Stanek acquired from the Mariners for OF Rhylan Thomas; LHP Josh Walker designated for assignment
To clear 40-man roster space for Stanek, who will be active for New York later this weekend, the Mets DFA'd a longtime member of the organization in Walker. The left-hander appeared in 24 games the past two seasons with a 6.45 ERA. More >
July 26: RHP Cole Sulser traded to the Rays for cash
Sulser, whom the Mets had designated for assignment earlier this week, was dealt to the Rays for cash, according to a source. The 34-year-old appeared in four games for the Mets, producing a 9.64 ERA, but he was effective with a 1.48 mark over 24 appearances at Triple-A Syracuse.
July 26: OF Harrison Bader remains day to day after rolling ankle
Bader rolled his right ankle attempting to steal a base in the ninth inning Tuesday in the Mets' 3-2 win over the Yankees. He left the stadium Wednesday in a walking boot, but tests were negative. Although Bader was out of the starting lineup again on Thursday and Friday, he doesn't anticipate landing on the injured list.
10-DAY/15-DAY INJURED LIST
RHP Dedniel Núñez (right pronator strain)
Expected return: August
Just as he was emerging as a key part of New York's bullpen, Núñez began experiencing forearm discomfort that lingered long enough for the Mets to send him for an MRI. That test revealed nothing more than a minor strain; Núñez's elbow is otherwise structurally sound. Per manager Carlos Mendoza, "this should be a short stint" on the IL for Núñez, who is eligible to return as soon as Aug. 8. (Last updated: July 26)
OF Starling Marte (bone bruise in right knee)
Expected return: August
After resting his knee over the All-Star break, Marte began baseball activities -- playing catch and hitting off a tee -- on July 19 in Miami. But his return date will hinge at least in part on his ability to tolerate a running progression, which he has not yet begun. He hopes to do so late in the week of July 22.
“I wouldn't say he's close,” manager Carlos Mendoza said on July 25. “It's going to be a slow progression. Once he gets [running], we'll have a better idea."
Marte's absence has already stretched longer than the Mets' initial estimate of four weeks, which would have had him back in mid- to late July. A follow-up MRI on July 10 showed improvement in the bone bruise but not a full recovery. Although Marte won't need another MRI before activation, he's likely to require a Minor League rehab stint, which could push his ultimate return date into mid-August. (Last updated: July 25)
RHP Sean Reid-Foley (right shoulder impingement)
Expected return: Early August
Reid-Foley, who missed the start of this season due to a similar impingement, is close to a return. He threw live batting practice on July 22 and 25, and is due to begin a Minor League rehab assignment on July 28 for High-A Brooklyn. If that goes well, Reid-Foley could return to the Mets in early August.
The right-hander has been on the IL since June 22 and received a cortisone injection -- his second of the season -- around that time. (Last updated: July 25)
RHP Christian Scott (right elbow UCL sprain)
Expected return: Late August or September
Scott began complaining of elbow discomfort following a July 21 start in Miami, and a subsequent MRI revealed his sprain. He is expected to shut down from throwing for two weeks in hopes of ramping back up in early August. If Scott's issues persist, he could eventually require surgery, but for now, he and team officials are optimistic that a rest-and-rehab regimen will suffice. (Last updated: July 24)
RHP Reed Garrett (right elbow inflammation)
Expected return: Early August
An MRI taken July 10 on Garrett's right arm revealed that he doesn't have any structural damage, just inflammation in his elbow. He restarted a throwing program the week of July 22, which keeps him on track for a potential two- to four-week absence.
Garrett, who began complaining of right forearm tightness following a July 9 outing against the Nationals, had enough trouble gripping the baseball during that appearance that he feared a "worst-case scenario" injury, which he was ultimately glad to avoid. A standout performer in April, the right-handed Garrett has produced a 7.94 ERA since May 22. He led Mets relievers with 42 innings at the time of his injury. (Last updated: July 23)
INF/OF Jett Williams (right wrist soreness; No. 1 on Mets' Top 30 Prospects list)
Expected return: August
Toward the end of April, Williams began dealing with a bout of right wrist soreness that has kept him off the field beginning April 21. To treat it, Williams received a cortisone injection in early May, but his soreness persisted enough for doctors to administer a second shot later in the month, which also didn't bring Williams back to full health.
As a result, Williams underwent surgery on June 6. He is expected to miss 8-10 weeks. (Last updated: June 7)
60-DAY INJURED LIST
RHP Drew Smith (right elbow sprain)
Expected return: 2025
Smith underwent the second Tommy John surgery of his career on July 12, after doctors found significant ligament damage in his right elbow. The operation, which involved both a ligament reconstruction and the addition of a stabilizing internal brace, ended Smith's season.
The right-hander can be a free agent in November and could miss all of next season, depending on how quickly he progresses in his rehab. A typical timeline for Tommy John recoveries is 12-18 months. (Last updated: July 13)
LHP Brooks Raley (left UCL strain)
Expected return: 2025
Raley, a heavily used reliever who was having trouble recovering between outings in mid-April, had Tommy John surgery on May 29. The procedure, which Dr. Keith Meister performed in Arlington, ended his season and possibly his Mets tenure.
Because of a clause in Raley's contract, he is eligible to become a free agent in November despite having fewer than six years of service time. As such, he may have already thrown his final pitch with the Mets. (Last updated: June 30)
INF Ronny Mauricio (recovery from right knee surgery)
Expected return: Possibly September
Mauricio underwent surgery in early January to repair a torn ACL in his right knee, which he injured during winter ball in the Dominican Republic. A typical return timetable for that operation is eight to 12 months, giving Mauricio an outside chance to rejoin the Mets in September. If not, he'll return in 2025.
As of a late-May update, Mauricio had begun running and hitting. According to vice president of player development Andy Green, "everything is progressing as it should." But the Mets won't have a great read on his ability to play this year until much later in the summer. (Last updated: May 31)