MINNEAPOLIS _ Zack Wheeler and the Mets downplayed the seriousness of his right shoulder injury Tuesday, but there weren't any easy or optimistic answers about what it means for the Mets' chances of moving him by the July 31 trade deadline.
Wheeler described the issue as a shoulder impingement _ the Mets had used the more general term "fatigue" _ and didn't promise that he would miss only one start. Manager Mickey Callaway said Wheeler wouldn't throw "for the next few days."
The earliest Wheeler is eligible to start again for the Mets is Tuesday, at which point he will be a half-month removed from his most recent game. He needs to pitch by Wednesday if he is to get two starts in before the deadline to show interested teams he is healthy.
