Mets injury news: Christian Scott waiting for the greenlight, how badly is he needed?

Christian Scott is one of the most exciting pitching prospects the New York Mets have had in years. But after 9 big league starts, a 0-3 record, and 4.56 ERA, he isn’t necessarily a piece on the roster they have to have.

Limited to an unknown innings total, Scott is working his way back from the IL. Right now, it includes a lot of sitting around waiting to get the greenlight to begin throwing.

The Mets could end up sending Scott to the Tommy John operating table regardless of whether or not he pitches in September. The question right now is whether or not the team really needs him.

The Mets don’t have the urgency to bring Christian Scott back in any role but they must try

The addition of Paul Blackburn to the rotation gives them one guaranteed starter. They aren’t going to shift him to the bullpen in favor of Scott. Kodai Senga’s injury negated the need for a six-man rotation although if Scott did come back his availability might give the Mets an extra arm to toss on the mound during a lengthy period without an off-day.

Allowing Scott to work his way back to the field is important because of the ever-present possibility of an injury. The Mets starting rotation depth isn’t great. Nobody needs to see Tylor Megill step on a major league mound again.

As a bullpen arm, Scott would be pitching on a completely different schedule and different role. He hasn’t thrown in relief since 2022. The transition isn’t always the simplest thing to make. Jose Butto is a rare breed in that case.

Scott as one of the arms the Mets could rotate through as an optional pitcher is one way to use him if the rehab goes well. Presently, the need isn’t there. Butto isn’t going anywhere which eliminates one roster spot for Scott to take. The Mets will soon have Reed Garrett and Sean Reid-Foley back. That’s two more and this pushes some combination of Huascar Brazoban, Danny Young, and Alex Young to the minor leagues. We have yet to even see Tyler Zuber in the majors and our fingers remain crossed that Dedniel Nunez will return at some point.

Having Scott available has value for the Mets. They need the starting depth available for at least September in case of an injury to one of the regulars. 

Pros and cons of letting him pitch again this year can war with each other plenty. For the sake of the future, it’s easy to dismiss how badly the Mets need him back. On the contrary, for the sake of right now, having a bullet to fire for even just one game can have fans in agreement that handling him cautiously and firing when needed works, too.

Scott seemed to avoid the worst of the injury. The Mets don’t need him. They’ll also put themselves in some major danger if they don’t at least carefully carry him back to health before the end of the year.