Reyes still not ready; shutdown is possible

CHICAGO - Jose Reyes has not played since Aug. 26, when he left a game with an aggravated oblique strain, and if he does not show significant progress soon, the Mets might consider shutting him down for the remainder of the season.

"There hasn't been that conversation at this point because of him feeling that he can do some things, and with some limitations, we felt that it wasn't necessary," Jerry Manuel said. "But because we haven't seen improvement, that might become a part of the conversation."

Manuel described Reyes' status as "pretty much the same" as it has been the past week. The shortstop has improved enough to take batting practice, but he still feels discomfort on that right side, making him reluctant to push himself in games. Not only is Reyes worried about swinging the bat, but stealing bases - because of his headfirst slides - is risky for the oblique muscle.

With Reyes in the final season of his four-year, $23.25-million contract and the Mets holding an $11-million club option for 2011, they might be better off making sure he's completely healthy heading into the winter.

With the option as a fallback, the Mets could negotiate an extension. Either way, the team currently views him as too valuable to move, regardless of his medical issues this season.

"Everybody says when he goes, we go, and that's the truest thing you can put out there for us," Manuel said. "That's the foundation of the offense, no doubt about it. When he does his thing, we seem to do our thing."

Extra bases

Manuel said Mike Nickeas, who was called up Wednesday from Triple-A Buffalo, is likely to be behind the plate for Jenrry Mejia's first start Saturday against the Cubs. Nickeas caught Mejia with Buffalo and Double-A Binghamton, but this will be his major-league debut.