Mets assistant GM John Ricco addressed the situation with slugger Yoenis Cespedes, and how he is considering surgery to repair the calcification in his heels.
Cespedes dropped a bomb after Friday's win over the Yankees, where he homered in his return to the lineup for the first time since May 14. The veteran outfielder said the root of his medical issues this season is from the heel ailment that has plagued him for years and that he was considering surgery, which would mean an 8-10 month recovery process.
After returning Friday, Cespedes has been held out of the lineup two straight games, though he offered to DH on Sunday and was told no.
The Mets have previously looked at surgery as a last-resort, perhaps post-career option. And that appears to still be the case.
"It's a condition that -- I think he brought up surgery -- surgery is definitely kind of a last resort thing," Ricco said before Sunday's series finale with the Yankees. "The way you treat this is with various conservative methods whether they be orthotics, stretching, anti-inflammatories and that's kinda how he's managed those symptoms over the past years."
Ricco added that "there's no disconnect" between the front office and Cespedes on the matter. Cespedes still wants to get out and play. The Mets, though, want to re-evaluate him first before making any decisions.
"When he raised the issue of surgery, obviously we're going to take that seriously," RIcco said. "We're going to have him checked out by our doctors some time early this week and we'll see where it is. He came in today and is actually feeling better and even volunteered to -- he thought he could DH again."
Meanwhile, Ricco wasn't bothered by what Cespedes said on Friday night.
"I think he was probably frustrated it was more painful than expected, so I can't speak for why or how he said it," Ricco noted. "But he did say it and I think we have to take that seriously.
"The thing we were collectively surprised about is he had the level of pain he did on Friday to push him to [mention surgery]."
Cespedes is set to see a foot specialist and undergo an MRI some time this week, the team announced on Saturday.
The 32-year-old was originally out with a strain in his right hip flexor before returning for one game Friday. He owns a .262/.325/.496 slash line with nine home runs over 38 games this season.