PITTSBURGH — Johan Santana has dealt with soreness in his surgically repaired left shoulder for the last 1½ weeks, slowing his rehab process, Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said yesterday.
As a result, the left-hander, who the Mets originally hoped would return by the All-Star break (which begins July 11), likely won’t return until sometime in August.
Santana has been limited to long-tossing and has not thrown from a mound since June 3. He won’t be cleared to begin his personal spring training until he shows he can throw off a mound without soreness — and then repeat the process.
“We need to get him to the point where he would have been on the 14th of February,” Alderson said as the Mets prepared to face the Pirates at PNC Park. “From that point, he will proceed with his spring training, which could last as long as spring training typically does [six weeks]. We are not yet at the equivalent of the 14th of February.”
Last week, manager Terry Collins said the Mets likely would target late July for Santana’s return, but that seems overly optimistic now.
“Ultimately it’s going to be when he feels right he’ll pitch,” Collins said last night. “We can only hope that it comes, and it comes in July maybe, or August or September. But we hope he comes back and if not, if he’s ready next spring we’re going into spring training with a pretty good pitcher on our team.”
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Collins wanted to get closer Francisco Rodriguez into last night’s 3-1 loss to the Pirates to give him work after a three-day layoff, but couldn’t find a spot. Rodriguez had not pitched since recording a four-out save in Milwaukee on Thursday.
The righty has a $17.5 million option for next season that triggers if he finishes 55 games this season. Entering last night, he was on pace to finish 62 games, but Collins said he has received no mandate from the front office to limit Rodriguez’s appearances.
“Nobody has come and said, ‘Why did you use him?’ or ‘You can’t use him or shouldn’t use him,’ ” Collins said. “He’s helping us win games.”
Collins said it’s not his job to worry about Rodriguez’s appearances — unless he receives that order from above.
“I just manage the team,” Collins said. “I try to figure out how to win a game and who to use to win that game.”
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David Wright (back) is scheduled to be examined by doctors again on June 24, the earliest he could be cleared to resume baseball activities in his rehab. Wright has been limited to core exercises.
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Ike Davis (ankle) will be examined on June 22. He will not be allowed to begin running until then.