$$$ Is Holding Back David Wright’s Return

Forbes.com:

Yet he keeps putting in the work, determined to get back to a major league field in a Mets uniform, maybe even this year. That may be optimistic, given his miniscule production in the minors so far, though with the minor league season about to end he is due to join the Mets for moral support during their upcoming road trip. A return to the team as an active player would be a great story and would draw fans to Citi Field during a September with little else to play for.

The problem is that Wright is due $27 million across 2019 and 2020. And if he’s playing, the insurance stops. It’s not a ton of money, relatively speaking, since the eight-year, $138 million contract Wright signed in 2013 peaked in annual value from 2014 to 2018 before dropping off for the final two years. The price tag is reasonable for a productive player, and maybe Wright can be that again. But it’s probably a longshot since he hasn’t played since May 2016 and he’ll be 36 in December. Cash that could be put to use elsewhere – let’s say re-signing Zack Wheeler after next year or going after another free agent – isn’t cash you want to use for sentiment.

In a lost season, does seeing David Wright come back for a few at-bats on the big league level, matter anyway? Other than some sentimental value, not really. The Mets need to be transparent and just admit what’s really going on.