Mets Notes: Lindor, Senga – MLB Transfer Rumors

Francisco LindorHis back problems have kept him out of the Mets' last five games, but the star shortstop is showing signs of recovery. Lindor told reporters (including Anthony DiComo of MLB.com) that he received a facet joint injection on Thursday that should alleviate or at least reduce the back discomfort Lindor has endured for most of September before this latest hiatus.

“I'm trying to do whatever it takes to get back as soon as possible”, said Lindor. “Without (the injection) … I didn't feel like I could come back sooner or later. With the injection, they said that could happen. I trust the coaches. I trust them what their input is. And we went and we did it..”

The initial results of the injection are encouraging, as Lindor said he was able to bend over to tie his shoes on Friday without feeling any pain. He was also able to participate in some limited baseball activities such as batting practice, and a broader workout routine is planned for today. It's not completely out of the question that Lindor could even play in today's game with the Phillies (likely as a designated hitter to avoid additional strain on his back), but both Lindor and the Mets are obviously trying to be cautious to avoid any major injury.

The absence of Lindor at this crucial point in the season has added even more drama to the Mets' battle for a playoff spot, even though New York has gone 4-1 in the MVP candidate's absence. The Mets, at 85-69, have a two-game lead over the Braves for the final wild-card spot, but are also not far behind the Diamondbacks (86-68) and Padres (88-66) for a higher wild-card spot. The Mets' fate could hinge on a crucial three-game series in Atlanta that begins Tuesday, and the club would obviously like to have Lindor available for that de facto playoff series.

Another reinforcement could also appear for the Mets in time for their final series of the regular season and possibly before the playoffs. Kodai Senga will make a rehab assignment for Triple-A Syracuse today, throwing a maximum of 35 pitches in one or two innings. As both manager Carlos Mendoza and President of Baseball Operations David Stearns told reporters (including Mike Puma of the New York Post), if Senga emerges from this rehab assignment in good shape, he could be used as an opener at some point during the Mets' series against the Brewers, which begins Friday.

“These situations are always fluid,” noted Stearns, and Mendoza said Senga could potentially be used in a traditional relief role rather than as an opener. Working out of the bullpen could better position Senga for inclusion on a postseason roster, since the Mets (on paper) wouldn't need an opener in a playoff game, though one can also wonder if New York would even feel comfortable having Senga on a playoff roster considering he's barely pitched all season.

A capsule strain and a triceps injury delayed Senga's 2024 debut until July 26, and in the right-hander's very first game, Senga suffered a severe left calf strain that immediately put him back on the 60-day injured list. Sept. 25 is the earliest Senga can be activated, and if he pitches for Syracuse today, he should be ready for a possible trip to a major league mound Friday in Milwaukee.

Senga was one of the stories of the 2023 season, as his first year in Major League Baseball ended with a seventh-place finish in the NL Cy Young Award voting and a second-place finish in the NL Rookie of the Year race. Senga, who was expected to be the new cornerstone of the Mets' rotation, was practically a non-entity in the 2024 season, although it is very exciting to think about what a bullpen version of Senga could bring to New York as it fights for the playoffs and perhaps in October. At the very least, a return to the game would provide Senga with some comfort for 2025.