DL in cards for Vargas to start with
PORT ST. LUCIE — As expected, Jason Vargas is likely to begin the season on the disabled list, Mickey Callaway admitted Saturday. Seth Lugo is lined up to start in the fifth spot, the Mets manager said. The lefty’s spring was setback a second time on Friday when he ended up in the emergency room as a result of his surgery on Tuesday. The painkillers he was prescribed after having his hamate bone removed upset his stomach and sent him to a local hospital. Saturday morning, Vargas said that he had his bullpen session pushed back a day because of it.
“As dehydrated as I was, they didn’t want me to go out and push it,” Vargas said. “So (Sunday) I will go out and get on the mound and see where we are at.”
Lugo was noticeably absent Saturday morning when the relievers took batting practice. Robert Gsellman, Jacob Rhame, Paul Sewald joined the four locks for the bullpen Jeurys Familia, Jerry Blevins, AJ Ramos and Anthony Swarzak in the drill. That would likely be the Mets bullpen.
Saturday morning, Vargas threw on flat ground with pitching coach Dave Eiland catching the return throw and handing him the ball.
“I can’t catch now, I can get a glove on, but catch the ball,” Vargas said. “I won’t go (into a game) if I can’t use my glove normally.”
The biggest concern after surgery to remove the bone, which is a common procedure for hitters, is healing the soft tissue and the cut from the surgery. The concern for Vargas is putting a glove on top of the scar from the surgery and it getting infected. Also he still has stitches. Vargas, who fractured the bone in his hand last week, said that he will not have the stitches from the procedure removed until 14 days after surgery. That would be April 3. it like very few. Good to see him on time with one and really hammer one.”