The Mets fell to 32-48 on Saturday and now own the National League’s worst record, but here’s a rare piece of good news for the woebegone club: Noah Syndergaard may be nearing a return. The team’s co-ace, who has been on the disabled list with a strained finger ligament since May 29, is scheduled to throw a simulated game in Port St. Lucie, Fla., during the upcoming week, per Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. Syndergaard will be opposed by fellow injured starter Jason Vargas, who went on the DL last weekend because of a strained calf. If the outing goes well for both pitchers, each would figure to make at least one rehab start before returning, DiComo adds. In Syndergaard’s case, he could be auditioning for other teams upon his comeback, as the Mets are willing to listen to any offers that may come in for the prized 25-year-old prior to the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.
Here’s more injury news from around the game:
- Like Syndergaard, Giants front-line starter Johnny Cueto is on the cusp of a long-awaited return. Cueto, who last took the mound April 28, made a successful Double-A rehab start Friday as he works back from a right elbow sprain. Cueto will throw a bullpen session Monday, and the Giants will then decide whether to activate the 32-year-old or have him make another rehab start, Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
- Cardinals shortstop Paul DeJong is on track to return to the team early in the upcoming week, Peter Baugh of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch relays. The power-hitting DeJong has been out since May 18 because of a fractured left hand, which has left shortstop to Greg Garcia and Yairo Munoz in St. Louis. Fortunately for the Cardinals, Garcia and Munoz have offered decent production in DeJong’s place. However, their output has fallen well short of the .260/.351/.473 line DeJong has posted in 171 plate appearances.
- The Rays placed right-hander Wilmer Font on the 10-day disabled list and recalled fellow righty Hunter Wood from Triple-A on Saturday, according to Bill Chastain of MLB.com. The right lat injury Font suffered Friday is likely to keep him out for around eight weeks, manager Kevin Cash revealed. Font, whom the Rays acquired from the Athletics in late May, looked to be emerging as a find for Tampa Bay prior to the injury. The 28-year-old has made nine appearances (five starts) since the trade and logged a 1.67 ERA over 27 innings, though he has only managed 20 strikeouts against 11 walks. Now that Font’s on the shelf, the bullpen-heavy Rays are down to just two traditional starters – Blake Snell and Nathan Eovaldi.
- Twins center fielder Byron Buxton has been out for a month because of a fractured left big toe, and there’s still no timetable for his return, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com writes. While Buxton’s making progress in his recovery, it’s possible he’ll stay in the minors beyond July 8 (when his rehab assignment ends), Bollinger explains. Even if Buxton’s healthy, the Twins don’t want to recall him until they’re confident he’ll be able to help them at the plate. With a miserable .156/.183/.200 line in 94 PAs, the 24-year-old Buxton has been a drain on Minnesota’s offense this season.
Syndergaard or not, Mets suck. Their hubris with him and DeGrom will result in them not trading either and losing both to FA, getting nothing in return.
Pretty sure they are both under control for a couple more years. They can get rid of other pieces and build around the two. It would be silly to sell off those two.
What other pieces? Clearly no one would jump start a rebuild like the haul they would get from trading one or both of them. And it’s unlikely either of them wants to sign a long term deal with the Mets.
You’re right dude, but some people just keep hoping for a turnaround without any kind of change.
They could unload Matz and Wheeler. As a ya Kee fan – I hope we do. It get wheeler, but I am sure he could get something. Syndergaarden you were speaking like they are free agents after this year.
That was – As a Yankee fan – I hope we do not get wheeler, but I am sure Manaya could get something back from some team for him.
Way to predict 3 years into the future Nostradamus.
You are right!
DeGrom is going to the Yankees
I was really high on the Mets this season. I thought Callaway was a good choice from the Tito coaching tree and I thought they had enough depth to keep ppl fresh and withstand injuries. I think they have the talent to make a run next year if they play their cards right though
“ . . . they have the talent to make a run next year if they play their cards right though.”
The “right” way to play their cards must involve signing Kershaw, Machado and a couple of decent IFers.
Major why don’t these people see what’s right in front of them with this team. There is just so few positives with this team to count on.
“ . . . why don’t these people see what’s right in front of them with this team.”
They’re fans, tgcf, they see what they want to see.
“There is just so few positives with this team . . . “
Well, deGrom, Syndegaard, Conforto and Familia are good when healthy. They are kind of stuck with Cespedes and Bruce. Other than that I don’t see a lot of “keepers.” Matz could become a reliable third/fourth starter but he hasn’t yet. Same for Wheeler.
There is some talent there but also several holes that need filling. Not sure why anyone now would pick them to finish ahead of the Phillies, Nats or Braves next year. Next year is sill far away, by April the new management triumvirate may have plugged all the holes. However this is the Mets.
In the beginning I thought you would be talking about the Cardinals , until you started naming names
Some free agents care about winning. Those are the one’s that you want on your team. Unfortunately the Met’s don’t attract them, so they sign the guys in it simply for the $$$.
The Three Stooges still have to report to the cheap owners, now referred to as Abbott and Costello.
Great, the Mets will get back their good players once the season is already lost, a lot of good that will do.
It could potentially transform their future if they trade Syndergaard for a monstrous haul
Buxton has been a joke this year….I don’t get how he can be this bad. He was a borderline superstar the last couple of months last season and I thought this year would be his breakout into stardom. Boy was I wrong haha! I just think it’s crazy that someone with his talent can look like mookie betts at times than look like a single a guy the next.
Buxton has been hurt all year, only had 41 AB before getting injured. He rushed back before the toe was healed, which is why he was so awful month of May, Twins finally put him back on DL to let it heal.
With all the physical tools he’s got…it’s the mental part he’s not getting. And unfortunately I don’t think that’s going to change. I hope it does but I wouldn’t bet on it. I see the Twins dumping him in the next year or two and someone picking him up,finding what makes this guy go and him becoming more than he was as a Twin.
Hicks has done relatively well with the Yankees, when he’s been healthy.
Buxton has had a very disappointing career. His speed makes his defense exciting but outside of a short outburst he’s been very lackluster at the plate. He’s not the superstar we were told he would be
Seriously, trade both DeGrom and Thor. Get a haul on prospects. They can be competitive with two years. They’ve hit bottom.
What makes you say that they can go from rock bottom to competitive in two years.?
The ownership is not fully committed and the management is incompetent.
The one thing that you should know as a Mets fan is that they have not hit bottom. This franchise is good at finding new ways to dig deeper holes.
They way I see it, if the mets trade either one of them this year, they will never get close to what they would be worth in return. Why not wait till next year and get what would likely be a package of equal value.
Noah Syndergaard makes Stephen Strasburg look like Cal Ripken. I can’t see teams beating down the door for him. I think Wheeler’s stock is higher at this point.
Buxton has not been the only drain on the twins offense this year. Missing 4 starters much of the season and playing several AAAA players has been the reason. Plus, Dozier has been horrible most of the year.
How is it good news that Syndergaard will be back now? The season is over and the only thing him being back will do is drop them in next years draft … they’ve already basically said they’re not dealing him.. pointless .. horrible organization .. the attempts at spinning anything as “good news” is infuriating .. the season is over .. the only thing else that can happen is a more serious injury in a meaningless game .. rage