David Wright has taken his sore lower back to California for further evaluation.
The Mets third baseman is expected to be examined by noted specialist Dr. Robert Watkins within the next two-three days and undergo physical therapy, general manager Sandy Alderson said Monday. Wright has been consulting Watkins in recent weeks, after the Mets captain was diagnosed with spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal canal.
Wright, who was placed on the disabled list April 15 with a strained right hamstring, has been shut down from baseball activities in his rehab for at least one week as he rests his back. He is spending the entire week in California with Watkins’ team.
“I’m hopeful that with this week of rest he will be able to resume his progression,” Alderson said before the Mets beat the Phillies 6-3. “Realistically what we have to do is wait two or three days and reassess things once he’s been seen by the [physical therapist] out there and presumably Dr. Watkins as well.”
Alderson indicated it’s too early to say if the Mets will have to find a longer-term replacement for Wright at third base. The team has recently used Eric Campbell, Ruben Tejada and Danny Muno at the position.
“Honestly, until three or four days ago I thought this was going to be a very temporary situation,” Alderson said. “As we continue to have setbacks we have to reassess how to go forward, but I think we’re a handful of days away from hopefully knowing something that will give us a better idea.”
Alderson said surgery has not been discussed.
“None of the doctors at this point have given us any indication this is a long-term problem that can’t be managed,” Alderson said. “That is the best information we have right now.”
Even with Wright’s murky status, Alderson doesn’t expect to land another bat from outside the organization.
“Offensively now we’ve been challenged for a period of time,” Alderson said. “So we continue to look inside the organization for somebody who can give us a lift and we will and have been looking outside the organization as well, but this is not the time of year clubs are looking to make deals.
“While we continue to canvas what might be available to us, realistically we have to get the job done with what we have, at least in the near-term.”