Mets right-hander says that his ulnar collateral ligament has significant damage and will likely require Tommy John surgery, per Anthony DiComo of MLB.com . The righty is getting a second opinion but seems slated for a lengthy absence. If surgery is ultimately required, its terrible timing for Smith. He is set for free agency at the end of this season and was putting up some decent numbers. He has made 19 appearances for the Mets so far this year, allowing 3.06 earned runs per nine innings. His 11.4% walk rate is a bit high but hes countered that with a strong 29.1% strikeout rate. Hes also been playing a key role in the clubs bullpen in recent years, with two saves and six holds here in 2024. He also saved three games last year and got double-digit hold numbers in each of the previous two seasons. Dating back to the start of 2021, he has a 3.35 ERA in 161 1/3 innings with a 26.2% strikeout rate and 10.2% walk rate. That would have been a decent platform to take into free agency if he were healthy and continued pitching well for the next few months. Instead, it seems likely that hell be going into the open market while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, the second of his career Cole Croston Jersey . He already went under the knife in March of 2019, mi sing that season and most of 2020. An emotional Smith spoke to reporters, with video relayed by SNYtv. As Smith himself articulated, theres never a good time to undergo this kind of procedure but it would be especially frustrating for it to both conclude his time with the Mets and also hamper him going into his first trip to free agency. Players in this position will sometimes find two-year deals, with the signing club aware that they are unlikely to get much return on their investment in the first year, but hopefully getting a bounceback at a discount in the second year. Hes already on the 15-day injured list and will likely be transferred to the 60-day IL once the Mets need his roster spot. For the Mets, this will give them a bit le s bullpen depth for the rest of the year. Theyve already lost to Tommy John surgery while and are also on the IL at the moment. is a big question mark at the moment as he has struggled in his return after mi sing all of last year and is currently serving a ten-game sticky stuff suspension. Despite some challenges, the Mets are just one game back of a playoff spot at the moment. If they hang around for the next month, they could perhaps look to upgrade their relief corps at the deadline, though a significant losing streak could also push them into seller position. Justin Neff Jersey