Mets Lose Top Starter

The New York Mets have placed starter Chris Young on the disabled list due to tightness in his right shoulder.  Young was scratched before Saturday’s game against the Los Angeles Dodgers and replaced by Mets righty Dillon Gee.

This is a blow for a Mets team who will lose its most effective starter for at least two weeks.  Young’s 1.88 ERA is tops among New York’s starting staff.

The Mets brought Young in this offseason knowing the Texas native has dealt with shoulder issues in the past.

Young had his best years as a San Diego Padre, where in 2006 and 2007 he was able to log over 170 innings at a sub 3.50 ERA.

In 2009 Young’s shoulder required surgery, which limited him to 76 innings that season.  He was unable to recover in 2010 when he was only able to give the Padres 20 IP.

After last season, San Diego granted the right hander free agency and he was signed by the Mets in January.  The deal guaranteed Young $1.1 million and included incentives that made it possible for that number to reach as high as $4.5 million.

Young sounds optimistic at this point, as the team is putting him through MRI testing to determine the level of damage.  He compared this experience to his past shoulder injuries.

"“Last year I could barely even pick up a ball…This, I can go through the motion.  It’s just grabbing as I try to increase the intensity.”"

New York hopes Young can quickly return to a rotation that is already without staff ace Johan Santana.