Two days after Zack Wheeler landed on the IL, putting a potential crimp in the Mets' ability to trade him before the July 31 deadline, the right-hander was out playing catch at Target Field in Minnesota.

Wheeler, who said Tuesday that the injury is a shoulder impingement, is eligible to be activated from the IL on July 22 (an off-day for the Mets), meaning he can potentially pitch two more times between now and the trade deadline.

Wheeler, who underwent an MRI, said Tuesday that the injury is something he has dealt with in the past, noting that he began feeling it halfway through his start against the Yankees as well as the entire outing against the Phillies.

"I've had impingements before, so I kinda knew what it was," he said. "But it doesn't really scare me. We got an MRI and it came back pretty much clean besides that. So I'm just happy it's nothing structural."

Wheeler said Tuesday that he didn't want to set a timetable for a potential return, but the fact that he was out throwing on Wednesday can only be viewed as a positive. And should give the Mets a glimmer of hope when it comes to not only trading Wheeler before the deadline, but getting something of serious value back.

"Honestly sometimes you think about it, sometimes you don't," Wheeler said Tuesday about the rumors. "It could be bad timing, but I'm trying to get out there as soon as I can. Unfortunate it happened now I guess."

While the injury doesn't seem serious, it could have ripple effects for the Mets and Wheeler well beyond July 31.

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