The Mets likely are headed toward at least another week without David Wright in the lineup.
Wright, who has been sidelined with a strained right hamstring since April 15, was eligible to be removed from the disabled list Thursday, but the Mets will use caution in ensuring their captain doesn’t rush back.
The Mets third baseman was off from workouts Thursday in Port St. Lucie, Fla., and has not yet run the bases after beginning baseball activities earlier in the week, according to general manager Sandy Alderson.
Originally, there was some thought Wright might be in position to rejoin the Mets this weekend, but that won’t happen.
“David was I think hopeful he could push the envelope a little bit,” Alderson said before the Mets opened a four-game series against the Nationals at Citi Field. “But he’s right on schedule, he certainly hasn’t had a setback.”
Alderson said the team typically likes to have players with hamstring issues rehab for three weeks before returning to the team. That schedule would push Wright into the middle of next week, but because the Mets play a two-game series against the Orioles surrounded by off days, the inclination is to wait until next Friday in Philadelphia for his return.
In the meantime, Eric Campbell will continue as the starting third baseman. Campbell had a solid early stretch with the Mets following Wright’s injury, but disappeared for much of the last road trip, going 4-for-21 (.190).
“When you lose big guys, sooner or later you need to get them back,” manager Terry Collins said. “A lot of it has to do with the scouts. There is a reason David Wright is a star. We’re asking Eric Campbell to step into some big shoes, and all he can do is what he does best, and he’s done that. … Through the long haul you need your good players out there, for the most part.”
Wright is batting .333 with a homer and four RBIs in eight games this season. He also had a hamstring injury that cost him six weeks late in the 2013 season. Last year, he spent much of the season playing with a jammed left shoulder.
Collins said the most important thing is ensuring Wright is ready physically when he returns.
“I don’t care what the doctors say the degree of a hamstring injury is: A hamstring is a hamstring,” Collins said. “And when you play the game with your legs, which we do in this sport, there is a process involved, and nobody can give you a timetable or exact date until those legs are ready.”
Alderson indicated he may have to address the team’s short bench, given that Wright could miss another week. The Mets lately have employed eight relievers on the roster and gone with John Mayberry Jr., Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Ruben Tejada and Anthony Recker as the only backups.
But finding another viable candidate at Triple-A Las Vegas could be a challenge, because Alderson isn’t enamored with the idea of promoting Dilson Herrera or Matt Reynolds to sit on the bench.
“I don’t think we would consider somebody like that short-term if he’s not going to play — unless we were prepared to play him more consistently than we have played our bench,” Alderson said.