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New York Mets: Should David Wright Retire?

By Ron Juckett

May 23, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; New York Mets third baseman David Wright (5) before his first inning at bat against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. New York Mets defeated Washington Nationals 7-1. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
May 23, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; New York Mets third baseman David Wright (5) before his first inning at bat against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. New York Mets defeated Washington Nationals 7-1. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /
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A herniated disk in his neck sidelines David Wright and places the star New York Mets third baseman back on the disabled list.

New York Mets third baseman David Wright is headed back on the disabled list.

The team hoped an injection into a bulging disk in his neck would help ease the injury, but all parties decided it was best to shut Wright down. Already suffering from spinal stenosis, this new problem is expected to sideline him a minimum of six-to-eight weeks.

At 33, Wright’s problems are deeper than the Mets. Although still a productive hitter, his injuries are to a degree life-altering. The spinal stenosis shrunk his spinal column. As anyone who has had disk problems will tell you, the pain is excruciating. Now, the popular player has both.

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In Queens, Wright is a legend. Stretching the era from the close of Shea Stadium and those good Mets teams a decade ago to last year’s National League Championship, his leadership presence and community leadership put him right up there with Tom Seaver, Gary Carter and Mike Piazza on the top of the mountain.

No slouch on the field, Wright is a seven-time All-Star with a career slash line of .296/.376/.491. His adjusted OPS+ is 133. With two Gold Gloves, 1777 career hits, 242 home runs and 970 RBI, you could make an argument for Cooperstown. Outside of a World Series ring, what else is there to achieve?

For the Mets, their offense is in trouble. Already too reliant on the home run, they now have lost both their corner infielders in Wright and Lucas Duda through at least mid-July. They sit three back of the Washington Nationals in the NL East and are increasingly reliant on their starting pitching to hold them in the playoff chase. Although James Loney came over from the San Diego Padres to help at first in Duda’s long-term absence, the larger hole now sits at third.

It will be easy to replace Wright’s average, hitting a career-low .226 in tremendous discomfort. No, it will be his presence that will be missed. His dugout and clubhouse abilities helping to push this young team towards great things. As with the Chicago Cubs, the mix of veteran leadership and youth is perfectly blended in New York. This is Wright’s team and anything longer than a mid-July return will be felt.

Yet, at what point should Wright listen to his body and move on to the next chapter? The last season he played in more than 134 games was 2012. If you listen to those around the team, the process he goes through just play is hard to watch. How long are he, and the Mets, willing to go through it?

Signed through 2020, Wright’s financial future is secure. We know if he was to retire tomorrow he could have nearly any role with the team he wanted. We also know he will return and grit out what he can.

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The end question is this. Once winter settles in, will he want to go through this next year?

You know Wright will think about it.

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