NEW YORK -- Brooks Raley, a potential solution to the Mets' left-handed relief problems, is about to take a significant step forward in his return from Tommy John surgery.
Raley, 36, will begin a Minor League rehab assignment Tuesday with Single-A St. Lucie. Mets officials expect it to be an extended assignment lasting potentially the maximum 30 days, meaning Raley should return around mid-July.
The Mets' primary lefty relief option for much of 2023-24, Raley underwent surgery last May and missed the rest of that season. He signed a free-agent deal in April to return to the Mets, who took over his rehab at that point.
His signing happened around the same time that the Mets lost both A.J. Minter (torn left lat muscle) and Danny Young (Tommy John surgery) to season-ending injuries. Currently, José Castillo is the Mets' only left-handed bullpen option.
Raley, who initially came to the Mets in a 2022 trade from the Rays, has a 2.58 ERA over the past three seasons. He has held lefties to a .556 OPS for his career.