PORT ST. LUCIE — Time to take a look under the hood and see if the parts are functioning correctly.
Who is ready for spring training? Who still needs to take it slow? These are some of the questions Mets general manager Omar Minaya and manager Jerry Manuel will begin considering today, when the team kicks off a three-day mini-camp.
Johan Santana, John Maine and Oliver Perez are among the players expected to attend the voluntary workouts. All told, up to a dozen players might attend.
“It’s mostly to see where guys are,” Minaya said. “Where are they health-wise and how are they recuperating? It’s mostly to see them on the field and get a real good medical report with baseball guys looking at them.”
The Mets are most interested in seeing Santana, who underwent season-ending surgery last August to remove bone chips in his left elbow. Team officials have received good reports on their ace, but are anxious to get a look in person. The Mets certainly want to avoid a repeat of last spring training, when Santana was shut down early because of elbow soreness.
Jose Reyes has been working out independently and likely will not attend the mini-camp. Carlos Beltran, less than two weeks removed from arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, also will not attend.
Among the players who remained healthy last season, Daniel Murphy is expected to partake in the workouts.
Maine indicated during a recent community appearance at Citi Field that his right shoulder is feeling strong, after a 2009 season in which he made only 15 starts because of arm problems. But Maine had not begun throwing off a mound, something the Mets will want to see this week.
Fresh off a new three-year contract for $36 million, Perez made only 14 starts last season before the Mets placed him on the shelf because of knee problems. Perez, who wasn’t in shape last season, has dedicated himself this offseason to conditioning, according to a team official.
The Mets also may get a look at Jon Niese, who tore his right hamstring after doing a split while covering first base last August.
Manuel will also convene his coaching staff, which includes new additions Chip Hale and Dave Jauss, for the first time.