SEATTLE — Manager Carlos Mendoza will be the one to address a right fielder shortage if one does occur, but for now the Mets manager is only “excited” that the team may soon get another piece back.
Starling Marte played in right field for Double-A Binghamton on Sunday. The veteran outfielder was hitless and walked one in seven innings, but he remains open to returning to the Mets for their next home game.
According to Mendoza, Marte’s next step is to pitch seven innings in the outfield on consecutive days.
Binghamton has Monday off, but unless it’s postponed, Marte will have a chance to meet that standard over the next two days.
Marte was placed on the disabled list on June 25 with a bone contusion in his right knee.
“He’s a big part of this team and he’s been out for a long time and I feel like our guys are improving,” Mendoza said before the Mets’ loss to the Mariners on Sunday, “but he’s going to be a big asset for us — his bat, his speed, everything.”
Tyrone Taylor has gotten the bulk of the playing time in Marte’s absence, but Jesse Winker and Ben Gamel have also played.
Mark Vientos was forced to withdraw from the game shortly after due to soreness in his left ankle.
Gamel was inserted into the lineup as the right fielder, Jeff McNeil moved to second base, and Jose Iglesias became the third baseman.
Vientos indicated he wasn’t concerned about the ankle, which he said began hurting during the team’s last home game and worsened before Sunday’s game.
Reid Garrett said he was encouraged by how well his arm felt Sunday after returning from the disabled list and striking out three straight batters in the sixth inning.
“I feel like I’m starting to get back on my feet again, so that’s the biggest takeaway so far,” he said.
Mendoza used Garrett in a low-risk situation with the Mets trailing by three runs, and eased him into his first major league appearance in a month.
“I’m not really worried about where I’m going to be used,” Garrett said, “I’m more worried about what I can do to help the team in any given inning.”
Sean Reed-Foley’s minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Syracuse was postponed due to weather.
The relief pitcher is scheduled to pitch one more inning at Syracuse University on Tuesday and then will be evaluated for a possible return to the Mets.
McNeil has been one of the few Mets hitters who has been consistent since the All-Star break.
The utility man has 23 hits in 71 at-bats (.324 batting average), five home runs and 13 RBIs in 21 games since the All-Star break.
