David Wright participated in infield practice and fielded grounders at third base before Tuesday’s game at Citi Field.
Wright, 32, has missed all but eight games this season while working to comeback and avoid surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis.
This is the first real sign that Wright has returned to doing at least some baseball activities. However, there is still no timetable for his return.
Sandy Alderson has often said that Wright would require 3 to 4 weeks of spring training type preparation after he began baseball activities.
Still, this is great news for the Mets and a sign that his potential return to the team is now in sight.
July 23
Sandy Alderson was finally able to shed some light on the condition of Mets’ captain David Wright today when we spoke to the media after Terry Collins‘ press conference.
He noted that while Wright has done limited baseball activities in L.A. already, he is set to return to New York early next week to begin full baseball activities as reported by Adam Rubin of ESPN New York.
This can be seen in a few different lights. Obviously, we all want the captain to be healthy and be able to return to the Mets lineup.
However, the timing of this announcement is interesting. While it is only my personal speculation, it seems that this is a viable excuse to not add payroll in the form of an infielder such as Ben Zobrist.
Alderson did note that the Mets are looking into outfield options but didn’t mention bolstering the infield.
Thoughts from Joe D.
My biggest takeaway from Sandy Alderson was that he told reporters at Citi Field, that the insurance money the Mets have recouped from David Wright’s deal, won’t allow them more financial flexibility in trades.
The Mets received roughly $15 million dollars of the $20 million Wright was owed for 2015.
But then almost in the same breath he says he can trade for a big contract. ” We can take on a big contract, even if you don’t believe me.”
As for Wright, even if he does begin baseball activities, Alderson said it would be about a month from that point that he could be ready to join the team. That means late August.
