LAS VEGAS — David Wright is rejoining the Mets — just not to play for them, at least yet.
After only two games with Triple-A Las Vegas, the Mets captain ended his minor-league rehab assignment Thursday and was headed to San Francisco, where he will continue workouts with the major league staff — but remain on the disabled list.
According to club sources, Wright is expected to remain on the DL through the duration of the road trip and continue working out with the club. The Mets return home against the Phillies next Friday, which could serve as a potential target date for Wright’s comeback.
Wright’s 20-day rehab assignment was scheduled to conclude Friday, but by ending it a day early, the Mets avoided having to place him on the major league roster or resetting his clock with a new injury. Wright was given the choice of returning to Port St. Lucie for workouts or going to San Francisco and opted for the latter.
As The Post reported Thursday, the expectation is Wright will resume playing for the Mets — after two-plus years on the DL — even after assistant general manager John Ricco’s comments earlier in the week that suggested the third baseman had not met certain “benchmarks” to warrant a September call-up.
Once Wright is removed from the DL, the Mets will be responsible for paying the entire remainder of his salary for this season, about $120,000 per game remaining on the schedule. As it stands, the Mets have an insurance policy that covers 75 percent of Wright’s salary while he is on the DL.
The 35-year-old Wright last played for the Mets on May 27, 2016, and has undergone three surgeries since. His previous comeback attempt was scuttled last August because of shoulder soreness that led to surgery for a torn rotator cuff.
“I’m hopeful, and maybe that’s just being cautiously optimistic,” Wright told SNY this week when asked if he expected to play for the Mets this season. “I put in a lot of work for this and I want it and it’s a goal of mine. It’s an attainable goal and I feel I am fairly close now and I need to lock it in, get the reps in and the work out on the field.”
Wright had wanted to play in minor league games three straight days but never attained that goal. Ricco cited that fact among the “quantity and quality” of consistency he says Wright failed to accomplish.
In 12 games for St. Lucie and Las Vegas, Wright was a combined 7-for-41 (.171) at the plate with two RBIs. But Wright also began his rehab assignment by going hitless in his first 14 at-bats. After that he was 7-for-27 (.259) at the plate. His defense at third base was “passable,” according to a talent evaluator, although Wright’s throwing arm — which wasn’t considered strong previously — has further diminished.
Earlier this month Wright told The Post he will remain a third baseman but is open to learning a new position such as first base if necessary.
“The most important thing for me right this second is I want to play this year,” Wright said in the SNY interview. “Along with that is going to come, I am not sure in what capacity.”
Source: Read Full Article