Shaun Marcum Now Even More Injured

So it turns out Shaun Marcum will not be activated from the disabled list so he can make his Mets debut on Sunday. He was scratched from a simulated game in Port St. Lucie on Tuesday, as his pain in the neck has evidently gotten worse.

Marcum was placed on the 15-day disabled list Monday, retroactive to March 22, with biceps tendinitis, even though he needed a cortisone shot for a shoulder impingement and then had the neck discomfort while trying to come back from the shoulder issue. Marcum is injured in three places, apparently.

Does this shock anyone? Shaun Marcum pitched to a very respectable 7-4 record with a 3.70 ERA in 21 starts for the Brewers last season. However Milwaukee reportedly “didn’t want to touch” Marcum this off season because of injury concerns.

Enter the Mets, who seem to love injured players, especially pitchers. Sandy Alderson was happy to dole out $4 million (plus incentives) to Shaun Marcum, the biggest contract Alderson gave this winter. In fact, except for the wonderful Frank Francisco signing, it is the most money Alderson has given a free agent since he took over the reins of the Mets.

So who will start for the Mets on Sunday against the mighty Marlins? Terry Collins has said that Aaron Laffey would likely be the first starter called up. Collin McHugh is also a possibility since he is already on the 40-man roster.

It certainly won’t be Zack Wheeler. The Mets are determined to keep him in Triple-A until their accountants say he can be promoted.

It’s business as usual in Flushing.