6:07pm: The Mets are hopeful that Rivera can avoid Tommy John surgery and will wait to see how his elbow responds to the PRP for awhile before making any type of determination, tweets MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo. It should be noted that the recovery time for position players that undergo Tommy John surgery is shorter than it is for pitchers, though the procedure would still leave Rivera on the shelf for several months and, depending on its timing, could potentially impact his availability for Spring Training.
5:10pm: The Mets activated second baseman Neil Walker from the 10-day disabled list today but were immediately hit with yet another dose of daunting injury news. New York announced that infielder T.J. Rivera is headed to the disabled list with a partial tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.
There’s no word yet on exactly how Rivera incurred the injury, but Mike Puma of the New York Post tweets that he’s already undergone a platelet-rich plasma injection. There’s been no suggestion yet that Rivera is pondering Tommy John surgery or a “primary repair” operation like the one Seth Maness and Mitch Harris underwent last year, though presumably, one or both of those treatments could become options, depending on the extent of the tear and how Rivera’s elbow responds to the PRP. James Wagner of the New York Times tweets that Rivera has been dealing with elbow soreness recently and wearing a tennis elbow wrap, but his discomfort has worsened in recent days.
Rivera, 28, has seen his name floated as a possible trade candidate — particularly when the Red Sox were on the hunt for infield help prior to the acquisition of Eduardo Nunez — and while he never seemed an especially likely candidate to move, this injury all but ensures that he will stay put. Since making his Major League debut with the Mets last season, Rivera has batted a healthy .304/.335/.445 with eight homers and 13 doubles in 344 trips to the plate. He’s played about 250 innings at both second base and third base for the Mets, while also logging 150 frames at first base and even nine in left field.
Unlike Rivera, the 31-year-old Walker is a much more definitive trade candidate. While he’s been out since mid-June with a partial tear in his hamstring, he was hitting a robust .270/.352/.468 with nine homers, 13 doubles and a pair of triples in 254 plate appearances at the time of his injury. There aren’t many teams looking for short-term help at second base right now — though Walker could conceivably help out at the infield corners as well — and Walker only has three games to display his health for interested teams.
However, Walker is also earning a fairly significant $17.2MM in 2017 after accepting a qualifying offer from the Mets last offseason. That sizable contract has about $6.1MM that remains to be paid, so it’s very possible that Walker will clear revocable trade waivers in the month of August. Assuming he clears waivers, the Mets would be free to trade Walker to any team through season’s end, though he’d need to be moved on or before Aug. 31 in order to be postseason-eligible with a new team.
There goes the pennant.
After 100 games, the Mets only have three players who have been in as many as 85 games- Granderson, Bruce, and leading the team with 97 games played is Jose Reyes, who in a healthier season would have been cut long ago.
Did not realize that. God, I hope they let Walker leave. The guy is always hurt.
Tommy John Rivera
Walker, Bruce and Reed to the Pirates for Dovydos Neveroskous. Pirates take on their full salaries.
The team brags to anyone who will listen that they spent money to make these moves.
The media and fans complain that the team only spent money to pretend like they are willing to spend money.
Make it happen.
Wow maybe they can even get Miggy, Verlander, and Justin Wilson for Marinez too
No need for the Tigers to pay any of the salaries..
Lol
You do realize that Detroit would gladly make such a trade if they could, right?
Too dump salary yes… to get somewhat decent pitcher with low potential… no… not 2 future HOF and a closer…
Just like ur mets proposal… which I thought was sarcasm… to shed salary yes… no acquire a decent pitcher with mediocre potential for a power hitting outfielder, power hitting infielder, and a closer… absolutely not..
Not when these teams see good names in pirates minor league system, not when pirates management couldn’t fathom taking on salary and that much money, etc., etc., etc.
Quite honestly both teams would say no to both our trade proposals… I made mine to mimick ur terrible 1… 5 million times worse than both liriano and Neil walker trades… don’t get me wrong, id love to have any of those players… but small market team for a reason
The Mets are going to both eat salary and get nothing for Walker or Bruce OR get stuck with them altogether.
And if Detroit could shed the more than $100 million they owe those two, they would take an empty pizza box in return. They’ve talked about trading Fulmer just to get out from under Verlander’s money alone.
Mlbtr needs to give the Mets their own article when they fire their strength and conditioning coach. You never ask for anybody’s job but this is getting ridiculous
Blaming a position player’s UCL injury on the Mets strength and conditioning coach? Really?
you could live with the naturally occurring injuries if you didn’t have the stupidity induced ones
Gotta love the Mets burning down every elbow they’ve got.
You are consistent! Not the brightest bulb in the socket, but consistent.
Call up Timmay!!
PLEASE up your troll game. It’s pathetic enough to actually aspire to be a troll, but it’s down right embarrassing to be bad it. Look at your GPS, find the quickest route to something clever to say… PLEASE! I won’t to at least be somewhat entertained by your bush league attempts at trolling.
His skill and subtlety are 20 grade, but he makes up for it with pathological relentlessness.
Who are these comments in response to? (Was the original comment taken down? Did the author of this article say something that I either overlooked, or was altered?)
I’m genuinely curious.
Elbow injuries may be contagious in the clubhouse. Lol
Please tell us more. I hadn’t heard your opinion on this subject. And please don’t worry about being relevant – that’s not something an expansive thinker like you should ever be saddled with. There’s always room for some genius on this discussion board.
Your sarcasm is so sweet. I guess getting swept was too much to handle for your fragile ego.
Perhaps your deep knowledge of the game coupled with your saber metrics intellect gives you a chance to become as AGM, however the mailroom is your tipping point.