Mike

Stanton

Sure Stanton is on the decline, but is $2 million in savings enough for the Mets to make their team worse and help the Yankees? If they’re desperate to dump Stanton, they could probably do just as badly dealing with a team that doesn’t happen to be a crosstown rival.

Stanton heard a pop when he sustained the injury on a pickoff move, but said he had more mobility yesterday than he did Monday night.

Stanton is day-to-day.

Stanton has already been out for eight days, so a DL stint is a possibility, since he would only miss another week at this point.

Look for Stanton around the All-Star break, perhaps sooner if the Mets trade a reliever.

Stanton will appear with Single-A Brooklyn today after a rough outing at Double-A Binghamton.

Stanton could return this weekend, but the Mets may choose to hold him out through the All-Star break.

It was Stanton’s first rehab appearance. His performance tonight makes it unlikely he’ll return to the majors prior to the All-Star break.

No word on why Armando Benitez wasn’t used, but we’re guessing it wasn’t anything significant. Stanton actually has three saves to go along with his 5.23 ERA for the Giants, but Benitez remains the club’s closer.

Stanton is expected to come off the DL on Saturday.