The Mets are now beyond a group of walking wounded.
Yesterday the Mets placed star shortstop Jose Reyes and semi-regular right fielder Ryan Church on the disabled list. The team’s most valuable player to this point, Carlos Beltran, had an MRI exam that revealed a bone bruise that will keep him out for at least a couple games. They replaced Reyes and Church by recalling top prospect Fernando Martinez from Triple-A and trading with the Indians for another shortstop, Wilson Valdez.
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General manager Omar Minaya termed it a “pretty active day.” Here’s how “active” the Mets’ season has become: Gary Sheffield, whom the Mets signed last month, started in left field last night. He was the team’s longest-tenured starting outfielder at the major league level.
Reyes and Church joined Carlos Delgado, Brian Schneider, Alex Cora and Oliver Perez on the DL. Reyes had missed eight of 11 games with tendinitis behind his right calf, and Church had been dealing with a strained right hamstring.
“It gives us flexibility, which is obviously what we haven’t had in awhile,” Jerry Manuel said of the moves. “At the same time, you lose a couple of really good players, good pieces to the team. For the most part it’s in the best interest of them and the team.”
Angel Pagan started in center last night, Martinez made his major league debut in right and Reyes and Cora continued to be replaced at short by journeyman Ramon Martinez. So last night the Mets had two Martinezes playing, and neither of them was Pedro. And perhaps neither of them belong in the majors.
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Speaking about Reyes’ injury, Minaya said that the Mets “didn’t see the progress from [Monday] to [yesterday] that we wanted to see.” Reyes’ DL stint is retroactive to May 21, meaning he will be eligible to come off a week from Friday.
“I don’t have to get to 100 [percent],” Reyes said. “As soon as I feel like I can play even 80, 85, I’m going to be on the field.”
Church, eligible to come off the DL a week from Sunday, is only a part-time player, but his absence does weaken the Mets’ bench.
Said Church, “The biggest thing was going out and trying to put stress on it and going out and trying to sprint. And it just wasn’t going to happen.” –Additional reporting by Mike Puma.