The New York Mets bullpen took another hit on Thursday as right-hander Dedniel Núñez was placed back on the injured list due to persistent forearm tightness. The move, retroactive to August 26, makes Núñez eligible to return on September 10.
Núñez initially landed on the IL with the same forearm issue on July 26. After a month of recovery, he returned on August 23 and pitched in one game, recording five outs in a win against the San Diego Padres. However, Núñez has struggled to fully bounce back in the days since that appearance, despite showing better recovery earlier in the season and after his rehab stint.
The Mets remain cautiously optimistic about his chances for a swift return. The team placed Núñez on the IL without making a corresponding roster move — with plans to call up Tylor Megill on Friday for a start in Chicago. The club’s assessments of Núñez’s arm and shoulder strength indicate no major structural concerns. Nonetheless, the ongoing forearm tightness is worrisome, particularly given Núñez’s history of Tommy John surgery.
Núñez’s anticipated return was meant to fortify a bullpen that has struggled to provide manager Carlos Mendoza with consistent relief options. The Mets’ relievers, many of whom are still gaining experience in high-pressure situations, have had mixed results. Reed Garrett, who started the season strong, regressed by May and has also spent time on the IL. Josd Buttó has been less sharp in his transition to the bullpen, requiring extra rest between outings. When Núñez was first placed on the IL in late July, it was seen as a precautionary move to ensure his strong finish to the season — a plan now thrown into doubt.
The Mets are also facing uncertainty with right-hander Sean Reid-Foley, who has been sidelined since June with a shoulder impingement. Though Reid-Foley was nearing a return earlier this month, he struggled with command during minor-league rehab outings, leading the team to shut him down. He hasn’t thrown in two weeks, and with time running out in the season, it’s increasingly unlikely he will return. If necessary, the Mets could transfer him to the 60-day IL to free up a roster spot.
As the September 1 roster expansion approaches, the Mets are evaluating their options for additional bullpen arms. Manager Mendoza has cited the need for length and a second left-hander, with Alex Young emerging as the likeliest candidate from Triple-A Syracuse. Young, who was claimed off waivers earlier in the season, has allowed just one run in seven innings for the Mets and could be called up again despite a slightly shakier performance at Syracuse, where he’s given up four runs in 4 2/3 innings.
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