Jenrry Mejia went on the disabled list on April 7 after straining his elbow during that warmup session, and just five days later, he was suspended for 80 games for using a performance enhancing drug.
Mejia is eligible to return from the restricted list on July 7 when the Mets visit the Giants in San Francisco. And, the Mets intend to activate him when he’s eligible to return, Assistant GM John Ricco told Joel Sherman of the New York Post last week.
Terry Collins said on Monday afternoon in San Diego Mejia will leave the team’s facility in the Dominican Republic for Port St. Lucie within ten days and begin a throwing program. Collins is seemingly looking forward to Mejia’s return in a month.
“We’ll find a spot for him,” Collins said about Mejia.
It’s not unexpected. Assuming Mejia’s performance last year wasn’t the result of the drug, he can still be a very valuable weapon late in games for the Mets in the second half. He can grab the baton as a fresh arm from what will undoubtedly be a tired bullpen by then, and presumably be a great asset to them when the time comes.
However, this is a delicate situation.
Major League Baseball rules state any player suspended for using a performance enhancing drug cannot participate in the postseason. So, while the Mets could receive a benefit from Mejia’s return, they’d be forced to reshuffle the deck again in their bullpen should they qualify for the playoffs. That’s not necessarily an ideal circumstance at that time of year, but none the less something the front office and coaching staff will have to address, should they get there.
Of course, they need to get there for this to be a problem.
Just Mets 