How Mets' Buck Showalter responded to Chris Bassitt's COVID criticism
NEW YORK – Buck Showalter is keeping clubhouse conversations private.
That's how the Mets manager responded Friday when asked about Chris Bassitt, who a day earlier called on MLB to stop testing for COVID-19.
Bassitt missed a start after testing positive last week and said he regretted telling the Mets about his status. The right-hander added that he "probably won't" report a positive test to team officials if it happens again in his career.
Showalter didn't divulge many details when asked if he addressed the situation.
"If we have, I wouldn't certainly broadcast it," Showalter said before Bassitt's scheduled start against the Miami Marlins. "We've talked to Chris and what have you. Everybody is entitled to their opinion. I'm not going to get into anything politically."
"He's free to express himself as a human being," Showalter said. "We've talked. I'll leave it at that."
Bassitt said he "never had a symptom" for COVID, but acknowledged feeling sluggish and tired last Friday before the Mets game against the Houston Astros.
"Stop testing it," Bassitt said on Thursday. "Stop acting like COVID is far worse than a lot of other things."
In his first year as a Met, Bassitt is 6-5 with a 4.01 ERA through 15 starts. Right-hander Jake Reed was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse on Friday to make room on the roster for Bassitt.
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Getting some relief
Trevor Williams is likely heading back to the bullpen despite throwing seven scoreless innings for the Mets in a win on Thursday.
Spots in the rotation will be harder to come by with the return of Bassitt, along with Max Scherzer (oblique strain) and David Peterson (paternity list).
Showalter noted that the next step for Williams will depend on "everybody else and how they come out of their next start". At this point, Showalter believes Williams will need at least three days of rest after tossing 83 pitches in the start.
"That was one of the challenges I had after the fifth inning," Showalter said. "I felt like the longer I took, the more time he would need off. I ended up erring on what we gained by getting those bullpen guys some time off, too."
Back on the bump
Jacob deGrom was scheduled to make his second rehab start with Single-A St. Lucie on Friday night.
The road game against the Daytona Tortugas is a homecoming game for deGrom, who's from nearby DeLand and went to Stetson University.
On Sunday, deGrom threw 1⅔ scoreless innings on 24 pitches in his first rehab start.
And while Showalter understands the excitement surrounding the Mets ace, he had a confused look when asked about the fanbase "dual streaming".
"I have no idea what that means," Showalter said. "Is it painful?"
Of course, the impending return of the two-time Cy Young winner will be no laughing matter for the rest of the baseball. The Mets hold the best record in the National League East, even with deGrom missing the entire first half with a stress reaction in his right scapula.
deGrom also missed the three months of the 2021 season with a partially torn/sprained ulnar collateral ligament.
"We really look forward to having him back knowing what he brings as a pitcher and as part of our team," Showalter said.
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This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NY Mets: Buck Showalter talks Chris Bassitt COVID comments
