NEW YORK — All-star shortstop Jose Reyes has been told to rest and refrain from athletic activity for two to eight weeks until his thyroid levels normalize, in another blow to the Mets.
Center fielder Carlos Beltran already is expected to miss the first month of the season following right knee surgery Jan. 13.
Reyes appears likely to also start the season on the disabled list.
“It doesn’t look good right now,” Mets general manager Omar Minaya said Thursday. “We will have to prepare for that.”
Reyes has been diagnosed with an overactive thyroid, and his levels were elevated after he exercised Monday and Tuesday. While he initially thought he might be able to return after a few days, he will have to stop working out and will remain at home.
Webb ailing
TUCSON — Arizona manager A.J. Hinch said there’s an increasing chance Brandon Webb will start the season on the disabled list.
Webb reached what Hinch called a “plateau” in his comeback from surgery on his right shoulder. He has not thrown a bullpen session for a week after saying he felt “stagnant” and was not making the progress he expected. Since then, the 2006 NL Cy Young Award winner has only been playing catch.
Hinch said Webb felt the best he has all camp after Wednesday’s throwing session, and a flat-ground bullpen outing could be scheduled soon.
“It’s getting fairly obvious that it’s going to be difficult to get him ready for the season,” Hinch said, “but I don’t think we’re to that date quite yet.”
Mauer leaves with injury
FORT MYERS, Fla. — AL MVP Joe Mauer collected two hits before leaving the Twins’ 8-3 victory over the Orioles with a sore right shoulder.
Before hitting a single in the third inning, Mauer fouled a pitch off his shoulder and manager Ron Gardenhire replaced him with Drew Butera in the fourth.
Gardenhire said he would hold Mauer out of today’s game against the Mets as a precaution but he thought the all-star catcher would be fine.
Footnotes.
The Nationals released former Rockies left-hander Shawn Estes and reliever Eddie Guardado.
• Brian Giles said the pain in his arthritic right knee is getting worse, and the 39-year-old outfielder informed the Dodgers he will retire, ending his career a .291 hitter with 287 home runs and 1,078 RBIs in 1,847 games.
