The Mets announced Justin Turner will be active for tomorrow’s game against the Padres.
To make room for Turner in the active roster, the Mets optioned Zach Lutz to Triple-A Las Vegas.
Turner strained his calf during Wednesday’s game against the Astros in Port St. Lucie.
According to Kristie Ackert of the Daily News, Frank Francisco still feels a burn in his elbow when he throws a ball.
As a result, Francisco said it would probably be a week before he can face hitters again.
“I don’t feel ready to pitch,” Francisco said, according to Ackert. “After I faced hitters, I take a couple of steps back.”
Earlier this week, Terry Collins told reporters Francisco would remain in Port St. Lucie while he continues to rehab his elbow.
Francisco had surgery to remove bone chips from his elbow in December. He had been shutdown early in camp after experiencing discomfort in his elbow.
Francisco went 1-3 with a 5.53 ERA in 48 relief appearances in 2012, having allowed 26 earned runs, 47 hits, 21 walks with 47 strikeouts in 42 1/3 innings in 2012 – he was shutdown after September 16 after being diagnosed with right elbow soreness.
Michael Baron, Contributor
There really hasn’t been anything positive to take away from Francisco’s camp this spring. He hasn’t thrown much, and when he has, he doesn’t seem to make any progress. He did throw a bullpen session before Wednesday’s game, and while he did throw from the top of the mound, his delivery was very deliberate and he was clearly holding back. Based on that and what he told the Daily News, it doesn’t sound like there’s any sort of timetable for Francisco at this point.
“A person who spoke to Santana today said the pitcher is leaning toward having the surgery and trying to resume career,” tweets Mike Puma of the New York Post.
“He’s not ready to end his career,” the person told Puma.
Meanwhile, according to Puma, Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Alabama believes the re-tear is “degenerative,” meaning the injury was not isolated to a single event.
Yesterday, Sandy Alderson told reporters Santana had likely re-torn the anterior capsule in his left shoulder, which was the same injury that required surgery in September, 2010. Santana required 19 months of rehab on his shoulder after the first surgery.
Alderson said Santana would remain in New York and would decide about his future over the weekend.
Santana is in the last year of six-year, $137.5 million contract he signed with the Mets before the 2008 season.
He is owed $25.5 million this season. There is a 2014 club option for $25 million, with a $5.5 million buyout.
David Wright made his return to Grapefruit League action today since before he left for the World Baseball Classic, and went 0-for-3.
Wright also played five innings at third base.
After he left the game, Wright told reporters he felt no pain in his intercostal muscle, and expects to play tomorrow against the Orioles.
Jeremy Hefner threw for the first time since being hit on the elbow by a come-backer in his start earlier this week, according to Kristie Ackert of the Daily News.
Ackert says Hefner felt good, although Hefner isn’t sure if he is going to pitch in tomorrow’s game against the Orioles.
David Wright went 0-for-3 with two walks and two runs scored in a minor league game against the Marlins today.
Wright played five innings at third base, as well.
According to Andy Martino of the Daily News, Wright would like to play in tomorrow’s game against the Cardinals, although he doesn’t know if that will happen.
Wright has been sidelined since mid-March with a strained intercostal muscle he sustained during the World Baseball Classic.
Justin Turner left tonight’s game with a strained left calf.
Zach Lutz replaced him at third base.
9:05 pm: Terry Collins doesn’t think Turner’s injury is a big concern (Baron, MetsBlog.com).
8:50 pm: Turner told reporters that his leg cramped up in the top of the second inning. He stayed in the game, but later left the to get treatment on his calf muscle.
“You know, I think it was a little tight from maybe compensating a little bit for my ankle,” Turner explained, according to ESPN New York. “It’s not really sore to walk around or stretch or anything. It’s more sore to touch.”
Turner missed time earlier in camp due to a ankle injury.
“Hopefully I’ll just get in and get all the treatment I need and take whatever pills they have and get this thing calmed down in a day or two,” he said.
Terry Collins told reporters Daniel Murphy could appear in a Grapefruit League game tomorrow.
Murphy is on tomorrow’s travel roster for their game against the Nationals in Viera.
“That signals he would be ready for the season,” Adam Rubin of ESPN New York explains.
9:04 pm: Collins said he expects Murphy to take three at-bats tomorrow and play the field – Murphy should play in the final three Grapefruit League games (Baron, MetsBlog.com).
Murphy strained his intercostal muscle in mid-February and has not played in a Grapefruit League game yet this spring.
Michael Baron, Contributor
If that’s the case, it means Murphy is ready to go. I would’ve thought they would have kept him out of Grapefruit League play altogether, just in case he suffered a relapse. That way, the Mets could backdate Murphy’s stint on the disabled list by ten days, minimizing the time he needed to spend on the disabled list during the regular season. But, in watching Murphy during workouts this afternoon, he appears fine — he’s moving normally, he’s able to pivot and turn the double play as well as cover the bag the double play.
Shaun Marcum experienced neck pain during a bullpen session earlier this week, so he was scratched from his scheduled start on Thursday.
4:35 pm: Marcum believes he will be able to start the first time through the rotation (Baron, MetsBlog.com).
4:35 pm: Terry Collins hopes Marcum can pitch in a simulated game either next Monday or Tuesday (Rubin, ESPN New York).
3:20 pm: The team says Marcum is suffering from ‘neck discomfort,’ and he has yet to meet with medical personnel (Carig, Newsday).
2:19 pm: Marcum did a dry workout, but no real throwing, and said he felt fine (Martino, Newsday).
March 25: Marcum’s neck pain will be treated with anti-inflammatories, the team announced.
Marcum has a 4.66 ERA in 9 2/3 innings over three starts this spring.
Jeremy Hefner left today’s game in the fourth inning after a comebacker hit him in the arm.
Dan Warthen told reporters the injury does not appear serious.
Update – 3:55 pm: X-rays on Hefner’s elbow were negative, and he is listed as day-to-day with a contusion.
Update – 5:40 p.m.: “Thanks everyone for the encouragement!” Hefner wrote on Twitter. “Mets fans are the best. Should be good in a couple days! #useyourglovenotyourelbow”
Carlos Beltran bounced a Hefner pitch back toward the mound and Hefner attempted to get out of the way. The ball seemed to hit him in the arm, near the elbow of his pitching arm. He immediately fell to the ground, though he was able to walk off the field seconds later. He immediately went into the clubhouse.
David Wright went 1-for-5 with a run scored in against the Cardinals’ minor leaguers today.
Wright served as the designated hitter – he did not play the field.
Wright has been participating in baseball activities since Friday and has taken batting practice in each of the last two days.
“Everything seems to be on track for him for Opening Day,” Anthony DiComo of MLB.com said on Sunday.
On Saturday, Sandy Alderson said he believes Wright’s goal of being ready for Opening Day is still realistic, although not a certainty, according to Marc Carig of Newsday.
If Wright needs to be placed on the disabled list, the Mets can backdate his stint by 10 days, so long as he does not appear in a Major League game this week.
Michael Baron, Contributor
As is the case with Daniel Murphy, I wouldn’t be surprised if Wright only appears in minor league games for the rest of the week. If he suffers a setback after appearing in a Major League game, the Mets would lose the luxury of backdating an assignment to the disabled list, which would unquestionably cause Wright to miss more than the first five days of the season. Besides, the rules can be bent in minor league games, as Wright could be allowed to get at-bats in every inning, thus maximizing his plate appearances over the next four days or so.
