New York Mets third baseman David Wright has decided to have surgery on the herniated disc in his neck, ruling him out for an extended period of time.
The New York Mets‘ injury prone starting third basemen David Wright finds himself back on the disabled list once again.
This time, Wright has a herniated disc in his neck, requiring surgery and keeping him out of the lineup for an extended period of time.
There is no timetable for Wright’s return, but the Mets said his return “will be determined based on the results of the procedure and the progress of his recovery.”
The surgery is set for Thursday in California with Dr. Robert Watkins, the same doctor who has been treating Wright for his chronic spinal stenosis in his lower back.
In a statement, Wright said:
"“After trying every way to get back on the field, I’ve come to realize that it’s best for me, my teammates and the organization to proceed with surgery at this time. My neck simply did not respond to any of the treatments of the past few weeks. While incredibly frustrating and disappointing, I am determined to make a full recovery and get back on the field as soon as I can to help the Mets win.”"
For the Mets, this opens them up to look for a third baseman as the non-waiver trade deadline slowly approaches on August 1.
To date, the Mets have had discussions about a short-term replacement at the hot corner, but will likely now open up for a long-term starter that can stay healthy.
For now, Wilmer Flores and newly-acquired Kelly Johnson will fill the captain’s void at third base.
Wright, who is 33 years old, is signed until 2020 with the Mets. The contract, which pays him as much as $20 million annually, is insured. The Mets retain 75% of Wright’s salary if the third baseman has a 60-day absence, which is likely with this injury.
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In 2016, Wright has played only 37 games, and has an average of .226 with six home runs. Last season, Wright played 36 games.
Although his contract runs through 2020, it will be interesting to see if Wright can make yet another come back from a back injury, or if he will decide to hang it up this time.