MIAMI — Johan Santana’s surgery wasn’t the only downbeat pitching news for the Mets yesterday, just the biggest.
The club also announced Oliver Perez has returned to New York to have his ailing right knee examined and that reliever J.J. Putz was shut down for the rest of the season due to a slight tear in his right ulnar collateral ligament.
Perez, who lasted just two-thirds of an inning Sunday at Citi Field against the Phillies in his most recent outing, is out indefinitely and isn’t expected to make his next start Friday at the Cubs.
Jerry Manuel said left-handed reliever Pat Misch, who was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo yesterday along with outfielder Nick Evans, is being considered to fill Perez’s spot.
The Mets said Perez is still feeling the effects from aggravating the season-long knee pain two starts ago while awkwardly trying to cover first base.
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Putz, who had surgery in early June to remove a bone spur in his right elbow, probably will never pitch for the Mets again after having his rehab abruptly halted due to the latest elbow injury.
Putz experienced the pain Saturday during a planned 25-pitch simulated game at Citi Field that he ended after just 19 pitches. The Mets then scratched his planned rehab appearance last night at Single-A Brooklyn and sent him to be examined. He does not need surgery, at least for the time being, but has been shut down.
Putz appears unlikely to return because the Mets are expected to pay his $1 million buyout for next season rather than pick up his $8.6 million option.
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Jeff Francoeur was in the lineup in last night’s 2-1 loss to the Marlins and will try to play through a torn ligament in his left thumb with the help of a custom-made padded glove.
Francoeur did as well as could be expected with the injury, collecting two doubles, but the Mets committed two errors and mustered just seven hits overall against Sean West and three Florida relievers.
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Gary Sheffield left last night’s game in the seventh inning with lower-back spasms but said he hopes to be back in the lineup tonight.
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Despite their ridiculous blizzard of medical mishaps, the Mets are still merely tied with the Reds for the dubious title of the majors’ most injured team this season.
Santana became the 19th Met to spend time on the DL this season, equal to Cincinnati’s number.