The Mets are worried that Brooks Raley will be lost for a significant period of time — perhaps the season.
Carlos Mendoza said before the Mets’ Thursday matinee victory over the Cubs that Raley, who was placed on the injured list April 21 with left elbow inflammation, was not healing “as quick as we thought it was going to be” and, thus, would not be activated when eligible in the next few days, as was initially hoped.
Instead, multiple sources said that after an encouraging first MRI further testing was cloudier on what exactly Raley is dealing with as he continued to manage his discomfort.
He has at least a fraying of a ligament in the elbow, sources said, and both the reliever and the Mets were in the midst of gathering more information.
President of Baseball Operations David Stearns said via a text response that he was not yet in position to confirm additional information on Raley and that further opinions were being sought.
Raley was not seen by reporters in the clubhouse before or after Thursday’s game.
His agent, Keith Grunewald, did not respond to a text.
Raley, according to the sources, is trying to determine if he can rehab and avoid surgery, but if he does just what risk of a complete blowout would he incur.
Raley also wants to determine whether a minor procedure might alleviate the problem and allow him to pitch again this year, the sources said.
And all of this is being weighed as Raley considers the bigger picture of his career.
He turns 37 next month and so there will be questions at this late stage of his career whether to just go for it and try to rehab rather than undergo a surgical procedure.
Raley is making $6.5 million in 2024, the final year of his contract.
The veteran lefty was off to a terrific start with seven shutout innings and a .095 batting average against in eight appearances before being shut down.
His absence leaves Jake Diekman as the Mets’ only established lefty reliever.
The Mets also have used Tyler Jay, Josh Walker and Danny Young as lefties out of the pen and it is possible — if he were not needed in the rotation upon his return from hip surgery — that David Peterson could be used out of the pen. Peterson is on a rehab assignment and eligible to return May 27.