Wagner Already Throwing?

[love_that_reefer]

Billy Wagner threw off a mound Tuesday for the first time since Tommy John surgery last September.
Wagner threw 10 pitches off flat ground and 23 fastball and changeups off a bullpen mound, according to the Mets. The left-hander didn't talk to the media afterwards.

Apparently he started throwing earlier than this but was told by the Mets to shut it down in mid-March. It's amazing to see him throwing so early and the Mets could have Wagner and Putz setting up KRod as soon as late July or sooner if Wagner continues his progress.

[ljshorty89]

I've been hearing for a few weeks about him throwing, and apparently he did long toss about a week ago. It's incredible that he's starting rehab this early. It sounds like August is more likely, probably mid-August, but if the Mets get a month and a half(plus a playoff run maybe) of Wagner, Putz, and K-Rod in the bullpen, that'd be a DOMINANT 7-8-9 inning combo.

[ljshorty89]

Billy Wagner is hoping to pitch in a minor league game in about 30 days.

Wagner has been sidelined all season after undergoing Tommy John surgery last September. Mets pitching coach Dan Warthen is expecting a mid-August return. The 37-year-old former closer has a 2.40 career ERA and 385 saves.

This came at the end of last week. Warthen says mid-August, Wagner says mid-July...I'll go in between and predict Wagner will be ready to join the team(if they allow him) at the beginning of August. So, at the trade deadline they could conceivably be "picking up" Jose Reyes, Carlos Delgado, Carlos Beltran, Wagner, and on their way to getting JJ Putz back. That'd be a hell of a set of "acquisitions".