MLB Trade Rumors: Reyes Injury Throws Monkey Wrench into Mets Deadline Plans?

ESPN New York has reported that New York Mets shortstop Jose Reyes, who left last Saturday's game against the New York Yankees with a hamstring injury, has been placed on the 15-day disabled list and has been ordered by a doctor to rest for at least three weeks.

While the Mets have strung together four straight wins in Reyes' absence, the news still comes as a blow to the Mets' possible playoff chances. Reyes, who overtook Colorado Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki in fan balloting to win the starting position in the upcoming MLB All-Star game, was hitting a major league-leading .354 along with leading the National League in several offensive categories at the time of his injury.

Reyes also joins fellow Mets starters David Wright and Ike Davis on the DL, both of whom are not expected back for some time yet.

Wright has recently started to resume swinging, and according to the Bergen Record will take batting practice with the St. Lucie Mets in Florida, with GM Sandy Alderson giving no indication of a timetable for Wright's return.

Davis, out since early May with an ankle injury, is scheduled to run next week near his home in Phoenix. If Davis still experiences pain while running, season-ending surgery could be next.

The question now—what options do the Mets have if they in fact believe they have a chance to make the playoffs?

Reyes' injury clearly will impact the Mets for at least the next month, and could certainly impact his free-agent status at the end of the season. However, for the here and now, can Alderson get creative and try to turn what looks like a mess into a success?

Alderson told the Newark Star-Ledger that the next 10-12 games for the Mets will be crucial in what his team decides to do at the trade deadline.

“You’re talking about two races. One is for the division. One is for the wild card," Alderson said. "When we get to a point—we’re not there now—when you go from two races to one race, how many teams are in front of you for each of those races, how much time is left? Those are all variables that have to be taken into account.”

The Mets face Clayton Kershaw and the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday before traveling to San Francisco to take on Ryan Vogelson, Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain before the All-Star break. It doesn't get any easier after the break, as they take on the Philadelphia Phillies and the trio of Cliff Lee, Roy Halladay and Cole Hamels.

Yikes.

Doug Mead is a featured columnist with Bleacher Report. His work has been featured on the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, SF Gate, CBS Sports, the Los Angeles Times and the Houston Chronicle. Follow Doug on Twitter, @Sports_A_Holic.