Mets' Callaway unaware of Cespedes' surgery comments
The circus that is the New York Mets has entered a new chapter, as manager Mickey Callaway opened Saturday's media availability by saying he had not been made aware of Yoenis Cespedes' potential need for major surgery.
Following Friday's game, Cespedes revealed he may require offseason surgery to repair his ailing heel - the injury from which he had just returned - which would sideline the outfielder for 8-10 months.
"I'm not quite exactly sure what he said," Callaway said, according to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. "I just know he came in pretty sore today." As a result of his soreness, Callaway also stated Cespedes would not be in the starting lineup for Saturday's matinee.
The Mets later said they would not be making any of their executive staff available after the game to discuss Cespedes' heel issues, instead preferring the outfielder sees another doctor before commenting publicly, per DiComo.
Callaway later said that the Mets as an organization are aware of Cespedes' heel issues, but that surgery was a question for the medical staff, implying that Callaway and the team doctors had not yet discussed that possibility.
"We thought his heels were in a really good spot coming in," the rookie manager said. "Or we wouldn't have activated him (from the disabled list) ... As far as what the doctors have advised Yo - or know about it - I wasn't in the room. It would be tough for me to speculate on anything."
The 32-year-old outfielder's two-month stint on the disabled list ended Friday, with Cespedes going 2-for-4 with a walk and home run against the New York Yankees as the designated hitter. Following the game, Cespedes said the pain in his heel is caused by calcification that would require surgery to fix, but that he was "still thinking about it."
Prior to the 2017 season, Cespedes and the Mets agreed to a four-year, $110-million contract. Beyond this season, Cespedes is owed $58.5 million.