ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Mets officials still are discussing whether they can find enough playing time for Michael Conforto to justify keeping the rookie outfielder in the major leagues.
With Michael Cuddyer scheduled to be activated from the disabled list on Monday, the Mets will need a corresponding roster move. All signs point to a demotion for Conforto, who delivered a game-tying double in the ninth inning Friday that helped the Mets beat the Rays.
Before the Mets lost 5-4 to the Rays on Saturday, manager Terry Collins was asked if Cuddyer could be moved around to enough spots to find playing time for Conforto.
“As you sit here today, the answer to that, can you find some spots, yeah,” Collins said. “But it’s not about getting Michael Conforto playing time, it’s about winning.”
The Mets expect to face five lefty starters in the next week, limiting Conforto’s playing time if he stays in the major leagues. Cuddyer, Yoenis Cespedes and Juan Lagares would give the Mets enough righty bats to fill the outfield.
“Not that [Conforto] can’t hit left-handed pitching, but we’ve got some guys who have made careers hitting left-handed pitching,” Collins said. “So we’re going to get them in there.”
If Conforto is optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas, he would be in position to return on Sept. 1, when rosters can expand.
“Is it going to benefit him more to play on an everyday basis over the next three weeks [for Las Vegas] as opposed to playing 10 of the next 20?” Collins said. “I don’t know. That is certainly something that will be discussed, but I don’t have an answer for that. It’s about running the best lineup you can out there on an everyday basis and certainly he’s done a good job.”
Curtis Granderson fouled a ball off his right foot in the ninth inning, but said he expects to play Sunday’s series finale. Granderson may serve as the designated hitter in the game.
Cuddyer played nine innings in left field for Single-A St. Lucie and went 0-for-4 with a walk. He is expected to fly home with the team on Sunday and then be activated a day later. Cuddyer, who went on the DL with a sore left knee, also has battled a barking left foot, the result of a recent foul ball, according to Collins.
Alex Torres, who was designated for assignment on Tuesday, was out-righted to Triple-A Las Vegas.
