Category: Roster

Mets Sheffield To DL; Niese Added To Roster

The Mets finally put Flickr photo courtesy of Keith AllisonGary Sheffield on the disabled list with a strained right hamstring. This is after a week of sitting on the bench and taking up a roster spot without playing. Sheffield said that he felt fine and was dressed to play about two hours before the game today. At least they’re able to make the DL retroactive to July 18, so he can come back in a week.

Jon Niese was added to the roster taking Sheffield’s spot to make the start in Houston tonight. Of course, he’s starting because Fernando Nieve tore a muscle in his quad in his last start.

Flickr photo courtesy of Keith Allison
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Nieve Joins Mets DL, Sullivan Called Up

NEW YORK - JUNE 19: Fernando Nieve #38 of the...
Image by Getty Images via Daylife

The Mets add another player to the disabled list today in Fernando Nieve. He strained his right quad while running out a chopper in Atlanta last night.

Cory Sullivan will replace him on the roster for now. He was hitting .290 with 2 HR and 24 RBI in 286 AB at Triple-A Buffalo.

I would assume that Jon Niese will take Nieve’s spot in the rotation next time around. If not, it’ll be a major shock.

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Report: Mets To Sign Lugo, Release Redding

Tim ReddingThe Mets are reported to be continuing their “hold on” strategy for this season by working out Julio Lugo in the Dominican Republic. Lugo was designated for assignment this week by the Boston Red Sox. There’s no way that any team is going to claim him, and highly unlikely that he can be traded within 10 days before he has to be released. Lugo’s contract is huge, $9M this year and $9M next year that could vest into $9M for 2011 as well.

The Daily News is reporting that to make room on the roster for Lugo, the Mets will release Tim Redding. He’s been a complete bust of a free agent. The Mets will have to eat the rest of his $2.25M salary for this season. Redding is 1-3 with a 7.22 ERA and recently lost his spot in the rotation and hasn’t fared well in the bullpen. The Mets haven’t been happy since day one with Redding when he showed up in spring training reportedly 20 pounds overweight and injured.

Lugo is 33 years old and doesn’t add anything significant to the Mets. This is a move just to help them complete the rest of their games this season, not win the games. Don’t hold your breath for Roy Halladay, Matt Holliday, or any other difference makers at the trade deadline. This isn’t the Mets year and the front office knows it.

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Mets July 2009 Injuries: F-Mart, Beltran, Reyes, Delgado, Maine

Flickr photo courtesy of Keith Allison
Flickr photo courtesy of Keith Allison

The list of Mets injuries is still pretty long and includes some of the players that are key to the team having a successful season. Omar Minaya had a review of player statuses with reporters yesterday prior to the Mets return from the All-Star break in Atlanta.

Fernando Martinez: Out 6-8 weeks. He had surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee.

Carlos Beltran: He had another MRI during the All-Star break. He still has a significant bone bruise in his right knee. Team medical staff still hasn’t cleared him to begin jogging.

Jose Reyes: He’s running lightly and hitting. Reyes could be back by the end of July

John Maine: He threw live batting practice yesterday. The plan is to get him into rehab games within the next 10 days and back with the Mets by the end of July.

Carlos Delgado: He’s been hitting lightly. The plan is still for him to return in August.

The injury situation is so bad that I see it hampering the Mets motivation to make a big trade this month. There’s so much uncertainty about how these critical players will perform during this season that it doesn’t make sense to unload big prospects to make a run this season.

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Mets 2009 All-Stars Ready For Action

IMG_0295Three Mets are in St. Louis today for the mid-season festivities. David Wright will be starting at third base and hitting sixth in the National League lineup. Francisco Rodriguez is in the bullpen and it’ll be interesting to see where he gets into the game. In my mind, he should pitch the eighth inning. Trevor Hoffman should get the ninth, despite the fact that he was added because Jonathan Broxton couldn’t make it because of injury.

The Mets have asked Charlie Manuel, the NL manager, not to use Johan Santana unless it’s an emergency. So don’t plan on seeing Santana unless the game goes to extra innings. Santana just pitched on Saturday and threw seven innings against the Reds. I’d be thrilled if he didn’t make it into the game tonight at all for the Mets sake. He’s too important to risk in an exhibition game.

Of course, Carlos Beltran would have been starting in center field but he’s recovering from a bone bruise to his leg.

Enjoy the game tonight. I know that I will be. Sure, it’s an exhibition but the National League could sure use a win. It’s been a long time and the Mets could use home field advantage in the World Series this year. Right?

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Oliver Perez Returns To Mets; Redding To Bullpen

OliverPerez1As expected the Mets are moving Tim Redding to the bullpen to make way for Oliver Perez‘ return from demotion “injury”. Perez made two start at Triple-A Buffalo going 0-2 with a 3.38 ERA. That’s not exactly lighting the world on fire in the minors. Perez also had 9 K’s and 9 BB’s in his two starts. The word is that Perez will start at home on Wednesday against the Dodgers.

Redding and his 6.99 ERA are headed to the bullpen, I assume to be the long man. Of Redding’s nine starts this year, I would only classify three of them as being “quality”. He’s a good emergency starter, but isn’t much more than that.

The only real question now is who Perez will replace on the roster. My assumption is that Elmer Dessens will be designated for assignment. Redding will assume his role as the righty-long reliever.

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Mets Injury Updates: Maine, Perez, Pagan, Wagner

John MaineThe Mets media got an update on some of the players that the Mets have on the disabled list right now. Jose Reyes, J.J. Putz, and Carlos Delgado are still in New York. They’re not rehabbing in Florida yet, so we don’t have any updates on them.

Oliver Perez threw three shutout innings in an extended spring training game in Port St. Lucie yesterday. He got through three innings with 48 pitches and his fastball was clocked in the low 90’s. He’s nearly pain-free and is pitching every five days now.

John Maine threw 60 pitches in a simulated game in Florida yesterday as well. He was rusty and felt a “pinch” in his right shoulder that’s been diagnosed as a pinched nerve. Maine won’t come off the disabled list next week when he’s eligible, so we have to get used to Fernando Nieve for a while.

Angel Pagan is rehabbing a right groin strain and should be back with the Mets in 10-12 days.

Billy Wagner is throwing three bullpen sessions per week. And he should start facing hitters in about two weeks.

If the Mets can get Reyes, Maine, and Perez back within a reasonable period of time they should be fine this season. If these key injuries drag on, I think that the Mets will have trouble contending for a playoff position. You can’t lose 2/5 of your starting rotation and expect to have a solid season. I just don’t see that happening.

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