52 Yoenis Cespedes CF

The Mets transferred Cespedes (heels) to the 60-day injured list Monday.

The transaction has no bearing on Cespedes' recovery timetable, as the Mets had already ruled him out beyond the first 60 days of the season. A firm target date for Cespedes' 2019 debut probably won't come into focus until the 33-year-old gets cleared to begin a minor-league rehab assignment. At this stage in his rehab, Cespedes has been able to throw in the outfield and hit in the batting cage, but he has yet to initiate a running program.

Cespedes (heel) has been hitting in the batting cage, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

Cespedes continues to slowly work his way back from heel surgeries he underwent in August and October, respectively. The veteran outfielder is also working through a throwing program, though he has yet to resume running, leaving him without a timetable for his return.

Cespedes (heel) played catch in the outfield with the Mets prior to Monday's game, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

He joined up with the team in Miami to be evaluated by the training staff. Cespedes has been playing catch for a couple of weeks and, if his testing went well, could be cleared to begin taking some light swings with a bat. The 33-year-old has no timetable for his return and is still a long way from being cleared to run, perhaps the most important step in his rehab, but the club still hopes he'll see game action some time in 2019.

Cespedes (heel) was officially placed on the 10-day IL, Matt Ehalt of The Bergen Record reports.

This move was a long time coming. It is not even a lock that Cespedes returns this season, although he said back in February that he expected to be back.

Manager Mickey Callaway said that Cespedes (heels) is scheduled to begin a throwing program Monday, Anthony Rieber of Newsday reports.

Cespedes is still recovering from surgeries on both of his heels, which he required in August and October. The Mets don't expect Cespedes to be ready to play until midseason, so his advancement to a throwing program shouldn't be taken as a sign that he's nearing a return to game action. With Cespedes likely set to open the season on the 60-day injured list and Jeff McNeil expected to fill in for Todd Frazier (oblique) at third base to begin the campaign, J.D. Davis and non-roster invitee Carlos Gomez could be the top candidates to draw most of the early starts in left field for the Mets. It's also possible the Mets may shift Brandon Nimmo over to left in order to open up more work in center for defensive standouts Juan Lagares and Keon Broxton.