Mets third baseman David Wright was diagnosed with a shoulder impingement earlier this week, and he told reporters today that a second opinion confirmed the diagnosis of an impingement and instability in his right shoulder (via Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News). More troubling was the fact that Wright said there’s no time frame for his return to baseball activities. Per the New York Post’s Mike Puma (on Twitter), Wright says he is embarking on an “aggressive, time-consuming rehab” of the shoulder.
Originally, Wright was said to be shut down from throwing for at least the next two weeks, though today’s meeting with the media suggests a substantially lengthier absence. He can continue to hit in a batting cage as he rehabs his shoulder.
With Wright on the shelf for an indeterminate amount of time, third base duties will fall to Jose Reyes. While the former shortstop has also been taking some reps in center field to enhance his versatility during Spring Training, he figures to land the majority of the work at the hot corner, with Wilmer Flores and perhaps T.J. Rivera also serving as options. Given the uncertainties across the diamond, where first baseman Lucas Duda has received cortisone injections in both hips after being slowed by pain early this spring, each of Reyes, Flores and Rivera could be in line for larger roles than initially expected. Jay Bruce has been getting a look at first base this spring as well.
[Related: New York Mets Depth Chart]
Wright said today that he still plans to return to the field this season, and per Newsday’s Marc Carig, he made no indication that he’s considering this latest injury the beginning of the end (Twitter link). Per Carig, right called the rehab process “well worth it.”
Once one of the game’s elite players, Wright batted a combined .302/.384/.505 with 208 homers, 177 steals, seven All-Star nods, two Gold Gloves and two Silver Sluggers from 2005-13. His consistent excellence prompted the Mets to sign Wright to an eight-year, $138MM extension, spanning the 2013-20 seasons. However, since a terrific but injury-shortened 2013 season, Wright has batted a more pedestrian .266/.339/.396 in 924 plate appearances across three seasons. He’s averaged 70 games per year over the past three campaigns and battled through a series of injuries, most notably including spinal stenosis and a herniated disk in his neck that required surgical repair last year. He’s owed a total of $67MM over the remaining four seasons on his contract.
I read David price and I hoped it wouldn’t be soon if he’s hurt lol
I think it’s time for the captain to hang em up
As a Braves fan living in Queens, they don’t even count on him being out there anymore. He’s the highest-paid clubhouse moral support in the game.
2018?
This is the end. Sigh. #Retire5
Spare the drama.
He wasn’t good enough to get his # retired. Its new York so they’ll do it anyway. His career was over as soon as the news broke that it was his back. If he retires the mets are off the hook for whatever they owe him. Basically buy him out for 3 or 4 mil.
Wright’s contract is 75% covered by insurance. So, if the Sox eat 1/2 Todd Frazier’s $, why not make a trade?
Asking price shouldn’t be that high.
Are you saying Wright for Frazier or used the saved money to acquire Frazier?
He means saved $ to acquire Frazier.
Or Moustakas from KC. Question is if Mets are willing to part with Dominic Smith to get one year of Frazier or Moose
Smith is looking good after shedding some pounds. His time is near. Wouldn’t trade that for them.
Time for Sandy to take out the fire hose. Wilpons will open the faucet and they will piss whatever little funds that they have away!
Easy answer: nope.
Todd Frazier probably wants to win. He aint gonna do it in Chicago or new York. Unless it’s a bench role and part time at third for the cubs
Does the insurance the Mets have on Wright’s contract only come into effect if he retires or can’t play anymore? Or is anytime spent on the DL injured covered? Just not really sure how that works
It varies from isnurance contract to contract. Fangraphs had a good article about ARod a few years back that touched more broadl on the insurance of contracts in general. I think on the BBTN podcast a night or two ago, they also mentioned that for Prince Fielder, insurance only kicked in oncehe went on the 60 Day DL
fangraphs.com/blogs/will-insurance-on-a-rods-contr…
The Mets will get reimbursed for 75% of his contract for each day he misses after 60 consecutive missed days. If he plays one big league game – the clock resets. It’s not easy money but insurance against long term absence.
He shouldn’t be swinging a bat with a shoulder impingement. The extension on follow thru will still inflame the tendons. I made that mistake in the past cause a Dr said it was fine to keep swinging.
“TC” told captain fantastic to swing as hard as he could and ordered extra BP”. He is an expert at overseeing players and watching them follow his Rx for shoulder disaster.
“…he made no indication that he’s considering this latest injury the beginning of the end…”
Well, of course not! The beginning of the end was a season or two ago…
Sad but time to retire.
He has guaranteed money coming to him through 2020. Only way he is going to stop trying to play is if a doctor tells him he can’t.
Or if the Mets buy him out… Something they should have done before this season began.
Don’t overstate things sandy. This should have happened in 2015.
The problem is, & I’m shocked theNY media has given Wright a 2yr pass, he didn’t retire b4 the ’16 or ’17 seasons. He really thought he’d be able to stretch out for 5-6hrs b4 EVERY gm. Idk how the INS works, but I do know having $25MM/YR in Jan-Feb, could have gotten us any superstar we wanted or 2 above avg plys. Think of Mets with Chapman, Cecil, Melancon, Benjoit or Encarnacion, Reddick, Trumbo, or J.Turner. Just off top of head
Wright is only scheduled to make $20mil in 2017, not $25mil. Insurance likely would not have covered the whole value – maybe 80%.
Hey j…are your senses fried? What do you think that with the savings for a dumb contract the Wilpons become smart?
Not.
Dave, we hardly knew ya….
Time to hang em up champ.
The Wilpon’s don’t budget, really. They just try and spend as little as possible, and they’re still steamed over their ad hoc approach causing the payroll to go this high. So, the odds of any significant part of any insurance money (if and when it’s received, which won’t be immediately) going back into the team are VERY low. If Wright retired before the season, the payroll would just be 20 mm lower, thereabouts.
Best case is it makes them more likely to make a deadline deal where you pay 33 cents on the dollar, at the price of prospects. Probably would have anyway if they absolutely needed to, and probably still won’t unless they absolutely need to.
I smell a Kelly Johnson return for the third time…
First the Braves have to sign him. I’m surprised this injury announcement was immediately followed by “In other news, the Braves have signed KJ.”
Now that’s realistic. One of these years, the third tier prospect we send them is going to turn into something.
Seems like it’s time for him to hang ’em up. It was a good ride.
A lot shorter than you want to admit!
Really, if he wants to keep playing he needs to go to AL where he can play maybe 100 games at DH, maybe 20 at 3B. The problem is for the Mets to trade him they’d have to pick up at a minimum 75% of what he’s owed, and even then they’d get nothing back (or trade for a bad contract); as a practical matter they are better off holding onto him and hoping to recoup more savings through insurance.
And it spread to Duda. The rash is rampant. Maybe it’s time for Fred and Jeff (like Abbott and Costello) retiring?
Retire from what? Being cheap? They’re still at the top of their game, some say, never better.
If teams could carry 30 players (vs 25), then, he might be a good platoon DH (short side, against lefties) and even that assumes he can back to hitting like he was before his injuries the past 2 seasons, which is unlikely. Look at his splits from the last 4-5 years. Was still an elite hitter vs LHP, but hit like a middle IF against RHP. At 3b, for the Mets, OK – they were trying not to notice. With a 25 man roster, the few DH only/mostly players still around need to be truly elite hitters. Wilpon’s could pay 100% of the salary (LOL, as if that would ever happen), and nobody would want him just to DH.
The 20 games at 3b doesn’t help. To play 3b earlier last year he needed prep time of about 5 hours pre-game (just because of the back condition). He had to be a starter when he played (or just pinch hit). He couldn’t back up in games he didn’t start because they don’t give backup IFs 5 hours to warm up before coming in the game. OK, if he can start 100 or so games at 3b, because you lose a backup for just 60 or so games. But at 20 games, you lose a backup for 140 or so. It’s all too high maintenance. Maybe the Mets continue to indulge him, but there’s no market for him at any price point.
David Wright needs to go ahead and retire because back problems lead to neck problems and shoulder problems and the older he gets the worse it will get
Wright should follow the lead of his countryman, Michael Cuddyer, and retire for the good of the team with time left on his contract or at the least, ask for a buyout.
Sadly not suprsising at all anymore with David. Has been such a great Met since he broke in the league-and I believe him to actually be a tough player who just has had some misfortune when it comes to injuries. With that said this fiasco is getting so irritating and old…so best case would be to completely shut him down so the insurance actually kicks in and we get at least some of this money towards actual pieces for future?
Is anyone else hoping Mets can find someone with speed and contact? Jose is only guy I think of that has that kind of game (maybe Lagares) but for bench sake even. I just don’t see any speed is my point… the Mets were in cellar as far as SB: just the threat of speed goes a long way IMO. Can’t rely on solo HRs all year.
Your kidding me Wright right
Stick a fork in him, he’s done!