JUPITER, Fla. –The Mets yesterday finalized a minor league contract with right-handed pitcher Chris Young, according to general manager Sandy Alderson.
The 32-year-old, who pitched briefly for the Mets last year, is coming off surgery for a torn anterior capsule in his shoulder (the same procedure that sidelined Johan Santana for all of last season) and isn’t expected to begin pitching in the minors until mid-May at the earliest, said a club source.
Young will report to camp by tomorrow, after a physical in New York. Alderson said Young has begun throwing from a mound.
Young was 1-0 with a 1.88 ERA in four starts for the Mets last year before having the season-ending surgery in May. Young also missed most of the 2010 season with the Padres because of shoulder problems.
The Mets view Young as a potential insurance policy. The organization is thin on starting pitching depth behind Santana, R.A. Dickey, Jon Niese, Mike Pelfrey and Dillon Gee.
”Chris was a real positive for us in spring training last year and pitched well early in the year,” Alderson said. “We’d like to see him get back to the point he was with us early last year and go from there. He’s been an All-Star and a quality guy to have on the team.”