The Mets have had a messy few months, as far as injuries go. But on Tuesday, they received some good news about their captain and franchise third baseman David Wright. His surgically-repaired neck is doing better and he's holding out hope he'll be with the team this spring.
Here's Jon Heyman with the details:
After meeting with Dr. Watkins in Los Angeles, his neck is determined to be healing properly. While he still won't return this season -- he likely won't even begin doing heavy workouts until the spring -- it does provide some hope that the 33-year-old Wright could return at some point next season.
Wright, 33, hasn't played in a game since May 27 following spinal fusion surgery -- an operation that cinched a second consecutive injury-shortened season. Up to that point, he'd hit .226/.350/.428.
The Mets would like to have Wright back at some point in 2017 for a variety of reasons, including the obvious human and human-related aspects. Alas, baseball's cold, detached side is never far behind its warm and fuzzy side, and that's why we have to note that Wright is under contract through the 2020 season, meaning, in other words, the Mets have more invested in his comeback attempt than feelings.
Of course, there's just no telling how effective Wright will or can be heading forward. In case you'd forgotten, give this a read to remind yourself of the limits he had to go in order to prepare for a game this season, and that was before this back surgery. There's a legitimate chance Wright's productive days are over by no doing of his own.
If so, you wonder if the Mets' plan at third base entering next season is already in place. Both Wilmer Flores (110 OPS+) and Jose Reyes (115) have produced at the plate. Flores is under team control, while the Mets would have to re-sign Reyes, a pending free agent. Reyes' past assault arrest figures to limit his market.
