NEW YORK — Carlos Beltran will begin a rehabilitation assignment Thursday and could be manning center field for the Mets before the all-star break.
Beltran has been out all season after having right knee surgery in January.
“It’s very encouraging to hear he’s doing extremely well,” manager Jerry Manuel said Tuesday. “He’s very excited about getting back and playing, and he’s in a hurry to help the team.”
But Beltran will have to prove at Single-A St. Lucie that he can go all-out and stay healthy before he is activated from the disabled list.
Also, the Mets said right- hander John Maine has gone for a second opinion on his sore right shoulder and they will have a report in the next couple of days.
Footnotes.
Padres catcher Yorvit Torrealba dropped his appeal and began serving a three-game suspension for making contact with an umpire.
• Outfielder Gary Matthews Jr. and the Reds are close to a deal, a week after the Mets released the former all-star.
• Giants outfielder Mark DeRosa will have season-ending surgery on his left wrist.
• Blue Jays right-hander Dustin McGowan had surgery to repair a “significant tear” in his rotator cuff. He will not resume throwing for four to six months.
• Athletics outfielder Coco Crisp (rib cage) was activated from the DL, while outfielder Eric Patterson was designated for assignment.
• Cubs right-hander Carlos Silva’s start Thursday was moved to Saturday to rest his ailing right hamstring.
The Associated Press
