David Wright is continuing his rehab in Las Vegas, but the New York Mets are showing they still worry more about money than anything else.
According to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com, Injured third baseman David Wright is stepping up his rehabilitation from neck and back injuries. As was previously arranged, Wright will head to the New York Mets’ Triple-A affiliate, the Las Vegas 51’s
The Mets are moving David Wright’s rehab to Triple-A Las Vegas, where the 51s begin a season-ending, seven-game homestand tonight.
It’s great news for Wright, who had taken two days off in his rehab from back, neck and shoulder injuries.
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) August 28, 2018
Wright’s 20-day minor league rehab assignment is due to expire on Friday, September 31. After spending the first two-plus weeks with the Class A, St. Lucie Mets, the 35-year-old gets a step up in competition. Unfortunately, the next three days may be the end to his 2018.
On a conference call with the media, assistant general manager John Ricco tempered expectations about Wright’s return to the major leagues this year. “It’s unrealistic to think he would be activated anytime soon, based on what we have seen to this point,” Ricco said.
The brain trust doesn’t believe Wright is physically ready for the grind associated with being a major league player. According to Mike Puma of the New York Post, Ricco said:
“To be a major league player takes a lot physically. So we tried to put in place a program that he could come back and show us he’s ready to be a major league player and so far he hasn’t reached that, whether it’s in terms of the playing time or playing skill. It’s kind of an all-of-the-above at this point.”
There is also an underlying financial consideration. Currently, 75 percent of Wright’s annual salary of $17.25 million is covered by insurance. If he was activated from the disabled list, it would be quite costly. The New York Mets would then be on the hook for his full pro-rated September pay of close to $3 million. It isn’t fiscally sound to bring him back this year.
