Mets closer Edwin Diaz will have an MRI on his right knee midday Thursday -- and the mood in the organization is grim.
Initial indications are that Diaz’s injury, suffered immediately after Diaz closed out Puerto Rico’s win over the Dominican Republic on Wednesday in the World Baseball Classic, is "bad," in the words of one source. People briefed on the situation fear that Diaz could be lost for a significant period, perhaps the entire season.
Diaz’s exam is tentatively scheduled for around noon, sources say. It typically takes four-to-five hours to receive and read a result, meaning that the Mets could have an announcement prior to or during Thursday’s 6:05 p.m. game against Washington.
Of course, if the initial results are inconclusive, the timetable for an announcement could stretch into Friday. But the fear is that the injury is severe enough to be quickly diagnosable and require surgery rather than rehab.
Without Diaz, the Mets see David Robertson and Brooks Raley as the primary options to match up in save situations. Raley returned from the WBC with a hamstring injury, but the team expects him ready either for Opening Day or shortly thereafter.
With Raley moving up in the pecking order, the team could sign another lefty reliever like Zack Britton, but also could use Robertson and Drew Smith in lefty matchup situations.
The Mets scouted Britton in February and were not moved to sign him. They will attend another showcase for the veteran reliever on Thursday to see if there is any improvement. Ken Giles is another veteran reliever still on the market, as are Corey Knebel and Will Harris.