The New York Mets appeared to have few problems heading into spring training. However, two recent injuries to their pitching staff are likely to pose depth issues for the starting rotation and bullpen.
A report surfaced on Friday that starting pitcher Zack Wheeler was experiencing tenderness in his right elbow, which he said was something he dealt with throughout parts of the 2014 season. The team sent the right-hander for an MRI on Saturday, and according to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com, Wheeler has a torn UCL and Tommy John surgery is almost "certainly inevitable."
When the report of elbow tenderness came out on Friday, both Wheeler and General Manager Sandy Alderson weighed in on the matter and claimed it wasn't a big issue since the 24-year-old endured treatment on the area last season and pitched through it. Wheeler said he would be ready for his next scheduled start on Mar. 19 and if it was the regular season he wouldn't have missed his previous outing.
Fortunately for New York, the team has good depth in the starting rotation with Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom, Jon Niese, Bartolo Colon and Dillon Gee currently on the roster and prospects Noah Syndergaard and Steven Matz almost ready for major league action.
But now they're thin in the bullpen.
According to Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com, lefty reliever Josh Edgin has opted to undergo Tommy John surgery after getting a second opinion from Dr. James Andrews. The operation will replace a stretched ligament and address a bone spur, which will be performed by Dr. David Altcheck in New York this week.
The loss of Edgin now creates a void in the Mets' bullpen especially since the team was already thin on left-handed relievers. Alderson noted they will look at their internal options and begin exploring external ones as well. Edgin finished 1-0 with a 1.32 ERA, 0.915 WHIP and 28 strikeouts in 47 games (27 1/3 innings) last season as the Mets' lefty specialist.
Rubin pointed out that lefties Sam Freeman of the St. Louis Cardinals and Xavier Cedeno of the Washington Nationals are in danger of being left off their respective teams' Opening Day rosters, so the Mets could be looking at those two options.
Additionally, Dan Martin of the New York Post said the Mets were scouting left-hander Brian Matusz of the Baltimore Orioles.
Dillon Gee is expected to step in for Wheeler, but it's unknown how the Mets will address the bullpen.
