default-cbs-image

Thursday morning, the New York Mets were dealt yet another blow in a season that has been full of them so far. Closer Jeurys Familia had to leave the team and head to St. Louis to have an anterior blood colt in his right shoulder examined.

As expected, Familia needed surgery to remove the clot, but the Mets did get some good news. On Saturday the team announced the surgery was not as extensive as expected, and Familia will resume throwing in six weeks. He could return to the team in 3-4 months. It was originally believed the surgery would end his season.

Here's what manager Terry Collins told reporters, including Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News, about Familia's surgery and timetable Saturday:

"From my standpoint it turned out a lot better than I had heard or what I was thinking it might be," Collins said. He had worried the surgery would be similar to that Matt Harvey had last season for Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, which knocked him out for the season. "I have not heard a time frame, but the surgery according to (trainer Ray Ramirez) was a little different than the other guys. No surgery is good, but it's better than could have been."

The 3-4 month timetable means Familiar could return to the Mets sometime in August or September. Of course, given the nature of the injury, you can expect the Mets to be cautious. Blood clots are no joke, and they're not going to rush Familia back. For now they will move forward with Addison Reed, a top-notch reliever himself, as their closer. 

Familia, 27, missed the first 15 games of the season after being suspended for violating the league's domestic violence policy. He went 3 for 4 in save chances and allowed five runs (four earned) in 9 1/3 innings after returning. The Mets are said to be looking for bullpen help to improve their middle innings situation. 

The Mets came into Saturday with a 16-18 record, which had them in second place in the NL East and six games behind the first-place Washington Nationals.