Mets put Cesar Puello back on 40-man roster due to injury

The Mets announced on Monday that Cesar Puello, who had recently cleared waivers and been outrighted to Triple-A Las Vegas, has instead been added back on to the 40-man roster while being placed on the 15-day disabled list due to a stress reaction in his back.

Puello, 24, was removed from the 40-man roster last week before being placed on and clearing waivers. After Puello cleared, the Mets outrighted him to Las Vegas. However, Puello contested the demotion since he was injured.

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According to Adam Rubin of ESPN New York, the Mets had to return Puello to the 40-man roster since injuries to 40-man roster players during the last 15 days of spring training entitle that player to be on the major league disabled list while receiving major league service time (April 6).

To make room for Puello on the 40-man roster, the Mets placed Josh Edgin – who is out for the year due to Tommy John surgery – on the 60-day disabled list.

Once Puello ready to return, the Mets will have to again put him through waivers in order to send him to the minors.

Thoughts:

It’s unfair to assert that Puello is using the injury as a means to avoid being sent to the minor leagues, and the fact that Mets doctors confirmed his injury seems to bear that out.

Perhaps the only reason Puello got through waivers was because teams were aware he was injured. What will be interesting to watch is whether or not the Mets will be able to get a healthy Puello through waivers.

At the moment, though, it’s not clear how serious Puello’s injury is or how long the recovery time will be.

Aside from the fact that Puello had to be added back to the 40-man roster, this injury means that the Mets really don’t have a solid outfield option to turn to if one of their current outfielders suffers an injury.