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The Mets have been without David Wright since mid-April, as even they couldn’t pretend that avoiding the disabled list was an option for the third baseman. Thanks to spinal stenosis, a condition Wright will need to manage the rest of his career, he’s missed almost the entire season. He could be back very soon, though, as he just began his rehab assignment with the Mets’ High-A team in St. Lucie.
The real test isn’t necessarily how Wright does in the games -- though going 1-for-3 after months and months off is good and all -- but how he feels right about now on Tuesday morning. The long-time Met thinks he needs about 30 plate appearances before he’s good to go, and if his body is feeling it, he could rack those up soon and be back in New York in a week or so. That’s all best-case scenario stuff, of course: Wright could easily be sore and find it’s going to take some time to count to 30.
It’s not just Wright the Mets could reintroduce soon, though. Steven Matz is set to begin his rehab on Saturday, and the starting pitcher could be a boost either to the rotation, in place of the struggling Bartolo Colon, or he could help shore up a bullpen that’s missing Jenrry Mejia -- thanks to another PED suspension -- and Jerry Blevins due to another fractured arm. It’s been a weird season for the Mets’ bullpen, okay? Regardless of the where, Matz (and Wright) would be welcome reinforcements for a Mets team that might need to win the NL East to make the postseason.
- The Dodgers bullpen is a mess, one that manager Don Mattingly isn't helping. It's too late to make a major upgrade, and this time it cost them against the Nationals, when they had to leave starter Brett Anderson in for too long to compensate.
- The Royals traded for rentals in part to win now with a win-now team, but also because their future payroll flexibility is already penciled in next to all of these young players they have.
- Would you rather be a fan of the 2011-2014 Tigers, or the 2012-2015 Red Sox? You can make a case for Boston even without simply resorting to "flags fly forever" as the reason. That helps, of course.
- Here are 40 New Era Yankees hats you can buy right now. If you enjoy horrifically designed hats, anyway.
- Michael Jordan loves Mike Trout, and it's no wonder given how much they (surprisingly) have in common.
- Here is a foul ball PSA from Yankees' first baseman and Safety Officer Mark Teixeira.
- He should probably help fans in the outfield, too, since one almost hit Brett Gardner in the head with a home run ball.
- James Shields cleared waivers, and now the Padres can trade him to any team they desire. Well, assuming one of those teams also desires Shields.
- Starlin Castro is playing poorly and signed long-term. The Cubs are playing well, and need to think about both today and tomorrow. What should they do with their young shortstop?
- Norichika Aoki is extremely close to earning his way to free agency, but it all depends on how much more playing time he gets.
- The Phillies have been a mess in 2015, but rookie Maikel Franco has been a bright spot.
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