The Mets introduced Tuesday that right-hander Paul Blackburn underwent a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak restore process on October 11. The standard timeframe to return to play from a process of this nature is 4 to 5 months, per the membership.
A timetable of 4 to 5 months would put Blackburn on observe to be prepared early or halfway by spring coaching, assuming all goes in keeping with plan along with his rehab. That mentioned, it’s a notable sufficient process that it calls into query whether or not that spring alternative will include the Mets or one other membership. Blackburn is eligible for arbitration this winter and projected by MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz to earn a $4.4MM wage for the 2025 marketing campaign — his final one earlier than free company. That’s an affordable sufficient value to pay for a fourth/fifth starter of Blackburn’s caliber, however the Mets are additionally anticipated to hold a weighty luxurious tax invoice. In the event that they once more return to the highest penalty bracket, Blackburn may wind up costing them extra like $9.25MM, given the crew’s tax standing.
Blackburn would possibly’ve been a non-tender candidate anyhow and sadly now appears likelier to fall into that class. If nothing else, the Mets may discover the potential of buying and selling him to a crew in want of back-of-the-rotation depth, although his murky well being standing would absolutely show a sticking level in any such negotiations.
The Mets acquired Blackburn, 31 subsequent month, previous to the commerce deadline in a deal sending minor league righty Kade Morris (whom they’d chosen within the third spherical of the 2023 draft) again to the A’s. He solely made 5 begins with the Mets, nevertheless, three of them with wonderful outcomes (six innings, two or one earned run allowed) and two with disastrous outcomes (mixed 11 earned runs in 6 1/3 innings). On the entire, he pitched 24 1/3 innings with a 5.18 ERA throughout his time with the Mets. Blackburn was positioned on the injured listing in late August after taking a comebacker off his wrist. Previous to the postseason, the Mets positioned Blackburn on the 60-day IL with a spinal fluid leak.
Beginning pitching was all the time going to be one of many focal factors of the Mets’ offseason (presumably, together with a pursuit of Juan Soto and an effort to re-sign Pete Alonso). Sean Manaea, Luis Severino and Jose Quintana are all free brokers following the World Collection (or at the least they are going to be, as soon as Manaea declines a $13.5MM participant choice). Blackburn may’ve been a key depth arm — a possible fifth starter or swingman — however his well being now calls that position into query and solely furthers the Mets’ want so as to add each high-end pitching expertise and high quality large league depth.
