Injuries & Moves: Senga transferred to 60-day IL
LATEST NEWS
July 28: RHP Kodai Senga transferred to 60-day injured list; OF DJ Stewart optioned to Triple-A Syracuse
To clear roster space for Jesse Winker, whom the Mets acquired in a trade with the Nationals, the Mets optioned Stewart off the active roster and shifted Senga to the 60-day IL, thereby removing him from the 40-man roster. The latter move effectively confirms what manager Carlos Mendoza said Saturday, that Senga is unlikely to pitch again in the regular season. He's now ineligible to do so until Sept. 26.
Stewart, another power-hitting left-handed outfielder, became redundant when the Mets acquired Winker. He'll go to Syracuse until the Mets again have a need for him on their active roster.
July 28: OF Harrison Bader remains day to day after rolling ankle
Bader rolled his right ankle attempting to steal a base in the ninth inning of the Mets' 3-2 win over the Yankees on July 23. He left the stadium the following night in a walking boot and hasn't played since. Tests on Bader's ankle came back negative, however, and he was available off the bench Sunday against the Braves. Manager Carlos Mendoza expects Bader back in the lineup when the Mets open a three-game series with the Twins on Monday.
10-DAY/15-DAY INJURED LIST
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 began a Minor League rehab assignment on July 28 for High-A Brooklyn, allowing two runs over 2/3 of an inning. The right-hander is due for at least one more rehab appearance, after which he could feasibly return to the bullpen.
Reid-Foley has been on the IL since June 22 and received a cortisone injection -- his second of the season -- around that time. (Last updated: July 28)
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 began this weekend with a series of sprints at around 75 percent intensity.
“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 28)
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)
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 Kodai Senga (high-grade left calf strain)
Expected return: Postseason potentially (if the Mets qualify)
Senga hurt his leg in pursuit of a popup in the sixth inning of the Mets' 8-4 victory over the Braves on July 26, went on the injured list one day later and was transferred to the 60-day IL a day after that. He has spent all but one day of the season on the IL and will remain there until at least Sept. 26. If all goes well in Senga's recovery, he could at least potentially return for the playoffs. (Last updated: July 28)
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)