The Mets bullpen has taken a big hit, as A.J. Minter’s strained lat could require season-ending surgery, according to Carlos Mendoza.
The 31-year-old lefty still is going over options, but Mendoza said prior to Tuesday’s series opener against the Diamondbacks at Citi Field that Minter is “dealing with a pretty significant injury.”
Asked if surgery was “on the table,” Mendoza said, “It is.”
If Minter and the Mets opt to go that route, it will end Minter’s year just one month into 2025.
And even if Minter avoids surgery, he will be out for an extended period.
“It’s a big blow,” Mendoza said. “Not only because of his ability to throw high-leverage innings, but [also] his ability to get lefties and righties [out].”
Mendoza said the Mets tried to guard against this type of injury with Minter, as well as others.
Minter, currently on the 15-day IL, left Saturday’s game against the Nationals in the eighth inning with discomfort in his triceps. He is set to make a decision regarding surgery within the next day or two, according to Mendoza.
“It sucks for him, especially going down this early,” the manager said.
Mendoza noted that the Mets have kept an eye on the workloads of all of their pitchers in an attempt to avoid serious health issues.
“We’ve done it with all of them, and here we are with an injury we tried to protect big-time,” Mendoza said.
The loss of Minter takes a key piece away from a pen that has been among the best in the majors.
Minter was especially durable in 2022 and ’23, appearing in 70-plus games for Atlanta each year, but his season ended in August last year, when he underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left hip.
Minter signed a two-year, $22 million deal with the Mets in January that included an opt-out after this season.
Prior to this injury, Minter had performed up to expectations, holding batters from both sides of the plate to an OPS well below .500 and providing a reliable eighth-inning bridge to Edwin Díaz.
He gave up a pair of runs in his second appearance of the season, but had allowed just eight base runners in 9 ¹/₃ innings over his past 11 games, striking out 12.
The Mets will be tasked with replacing the veteran pitcher in pressure-filled spots.
“Guys will continue to get opportunities,” Mendoza said. “We’ve got to keep going.”
Recently signed left-hander Brooks Raley, rehabbing from Tommy John surgery he underwent in May, is throwing bullpen sessions and could start facing batters in a matter of weeks, according to Mendoza.
In the meantime, the Mets figure to ask even more of Ryne Stanek — who has struggled — as well as relievers like Reed Garrett, Huascar Brazobán and Max Kranick, who have all gotten off to excellent starts.
As for Díaz, Mendoza said the closer’s lack of work since he left last Wednesday’s outing with a hip cramp was not because of the injury.
“It’s just workload,” Mendoza said of Díaz, who had appeared in only Saturday’s game heading into Tuesday. “With the hip, it was that day. He got treatment [Thursday] and was fine.”