MIAMI -- New York Mets ace Jacob deGrom is in good health, but it is not clear if the team will be able to return him this season, Sandy Alderson, team president, said.
DeGrom, 32 years old, has not pitched since July 7, due to a sprained elbow. Before being injured, DeGrom was 7-2 with a 1.08 ERA (146 strikeouts) and was 7-2 before he was sidelined.
Alderson stated that the sprain had resolved at this point before the Mets took to the field Tuesday night in Miami. Based on the MRIs and clinical evaluations by our doctors, the elbow appears to be completely intact. It is important to determine if this is a more chronic problem that has to do with mechanics.
Tuesday's start by the Mets was the third in the National League East. They are four games behind Atlanta, division leader, and four games behind the second NL wild card spot.
Alderson stated Tuesday that he had not been in touch with Zack Scott, the acting general manager. Scott was arrested last week for driving while intoxicated.
Alderson stated that the team was "caught off guard" and called Scott's arrest "very unfortunate."
Alderson stated, "There's not much I can say beyond what was said before." It's a criminal case at the moment. We and the other members of the organization won't make any comments until that case is resolved.
Alderson stated that he had reached out to Scott several times since his arrest. Alderson stated that Scott's feelings are not clear at the moment.
Scott was placed on paid administrative leave by the Mets following his arrest. Scott pleaded not guilty for the traffic violation charge.
Scott, 44, was promoted to acting general manager after he joined the Mets in December as senior vice president. After GM Jared Porter's firing, Scott was promoted to acting general manger in January. He had been accused of sending uninvited and sexually explicit text messages and images in 2016 to a female reporter while working with the Chicago Cubs.
This report was contributed by The Associated Press.
