The Latest on Dillon Gee's shoulder

Yesterday, the Mets announced that Dillon Gee will be placed on the 15-day disabled list with a clot in the artery in his right shoulder.

The team said Gee reported numbness in his fingers Sunday. Doctors discovered the clot Monday and inserted a catheter into his shoulder to break it up.

In the Wall Street Journal, Brian Costa speaks with Dr. Lawrence Gardner, the acting co-director of hematology at NYU Langone Medical Center, and explains:

Terry Collins told reporters in Kansas City that Chris Young will start in Gee's place this Friday against the Braves, after which Miguel Batista could slot in (for the July 21 start) depending on how the team handles the off-day next Monday.

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Matthew Cerrone: The sense I get is the team and players are actually pretty concerned about this, and I think Costa's conversation with Dr. Gardner explains why. I had just one conversation with someone familiar with this situation, and I was told to look more at Jeremy Bonderman's history (as Costa points out) than Bobby Parnell, who had a similar, but less serious situation occur last season. The concern, as I can tell, is that (at the very least) this could be months of recovery, but worse could be career-threatening because of damage to the actual shoulder due to a lack of blood flow. In the meantime, everyone waits, including Gee.

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According to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com, Gee will be replaced on the roster by either Triple-A reliever Josh Edgin or Robert Carson.

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To see previous updates, click here or use the tab at the top of this site.

Last Night's ASG, Dickey and What's Next for the Mets

The National League beat the American League by the score of 8-0 during last night's All-Star Game.

RA Dickey entered the game in the sixth inning and let up a hit and hit a batter, but got an inning-ending double play. Carlos Ruiz used Josh Thole's softball mitt to catch Dickey's knuckleball.

Meanwhile, David Wright, replaced Pablo Sandoval at third base and went 0-for-2.

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Matthew Cerrone: Eh, this game was very uninteresting after the introductions and the first inning or two. Frankly, the game became less interesting the minute it was announced that Dickey wouldn't be starting for the National League.

I'm not a huge All-Star Game guy, so it'd be hypocritical for me to get all worked up about this from a baseball sense. But, as I said earlier this week, I just feel bad for baseball (as a business) and for Dickey. Baseball can use all the compelling stories it can get ' and, from the way Kansas City cheered RA during the introductions, it was clear they (and probably most baseball fans) appreciate his story and they wanted to see him pitch' and they did, but not until most people probably went to bed, because the game was essentially over. I mean, FOX broadcasters mentioned Dickey more times in the first hour or the game than any other player, and he wasn't even pitching. As for Dickey himself, his mid-game interview on FOX after he pitched showed just how much respect he has for the game and how humble he is about his success, and it showed how much he would have appreciated the spotlight at his age' and yet that opportunity was robbed from him.

Anyway, what's done is done, it was a missed opportunity and we now move on'

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Later today, Jason Bay and Frank Francisco may play a rehab with Single- A St. Lucie in Tampa, as they both work back from their respective injuries.

Lastly, R.A. Dickey is scheduled to be a guest on The Late Show with David Letterman tonight, which airs on CBS at 11:30 pm ET.

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To hear from Terry Collins, David Wright, and R.A. Dickey about their All-Star Game experience, watch this:

Mets and Yankees will play just 4 times in 2013

According to the Associated Press, MLB union chief Michael Weiner told reporters in Kansas City that interleague rivals will begin playing just three or four (not six) in 2013.

The report indicates the following:

Werner explained that the Mets and Yankees could end up playing a four-game series in 2013, with two games at Citi Field immediately followed by two games in the Bronx, unless the NL East is playing the AL East, in which case the two teams would return to playing six times.

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Matthew Cerrone: I like this a lot. Look, I try to convince myself that I'm over the regular-season Subway Series, and that it's a fad that has passed, and I know the games don't mean more than any other games, but I totally get excited and in to it when I see those two classic uniforms on the same field. The thing is, it's a bit exhausting to see it all occur, go through all the buzz and debate and arguing with Yankees fans, and then move on, only to get back in to it again with all the same debates and discussion just a few weeks later. That, more than anything, takes away from the overall experience and makes it all feel less unique.

However, by doing it this new way (playing four-straight games in both parks) I think will focus the buzz and rivalry and concentrate the intrigue and make it a fun four-day circus through New York' and then we move on.

Mets might look to acquire one or two veteran relievers

According to CSBSports.com's Jon Heyman, the Mets might look to acquire a veteran reliever or two, and possibly a veteran catcher before the July 31 trade deadline, 'since they owe it to manager Terry Collins and the players.'

In regards to the bullpen, Heyman says possible targets could include Francisco Rodriguez, Grant Balfour, Huston Street, Brett Myers, Brandon Lyon and Jonathan Broxton.

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Matthew Cerrone: You know, I hadn't thought about that aspect to all of this, which is that these players and coaching staff have been playing terrific baseball. They've hustled. They've been professional and exciting, and they're in a pennant race' earlier in this rebuilding phase than most people expected. So, if you're trying to build a new winning culture, as the Mets are doing, if ' as soon as the team shows signs of winning ' you turn your back and show no support, what kind of message will that send to everyone involved? In other words, Ownership and management have an opportunity to show their players that they 'have their backs,' so to speak, and, according to Heyman, they feel they need to deliver on it.

ESPN poll results of 21k people picks Dickey over Cain

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Video Q&A: Ted Berg talks with Matt Harvey

Here, SNY.TV's Ted Berg talks with Mets RHP prospect Matt Harvey'

In 18 starts for Triple-A Buffalo this year, Harvey is 7-4 with a 3.39 ERA through 98 innings, during which he's struck out 102 batters.

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Matthew Cerrone: The Mets tell people they're open to Harvey pitching in the big leagues this season, but only if he fills a need. From what I can gather, the organization is happy with how he's handled criticism and feedback leaving Spring Training, and how he's developed over the course of the year.

Updated: Ramon Hernandez is Sandy's top target at C

According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, 'The Mets have Ramon Hernandez atop their wish list to upgrade at catcher, but team officials insist they see it as a salary dump by the Rockies and therefore will not offer up much of a prospect in return.'

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July 8, 9:30 am: Sherman lists Hernandez, Red Sox C Kelly Shoppach, and Mariners C Miguel Olivo as possible targets for the Mets as the trade deadline approaches.

Sherman says, 'Mets officials are concerned about disrupting the positive eco-system around the team by adding the wrong personalities or unsettling the pitching by bringing in a catcher in midstream.'

Meanwhile, Adam Rubin of ESPN New York says the Rockies have always liked Justin Turner, who, along with minor leaguers like Wilfredo Tovar, Domingo Tapia, Matt Den Dekker, or Josh Edgin, could get a deal done.

In addition, Rubin said on Twitter, the Mets are trying to expand the deal to include LHP Matt Reynolds, who was also mentioned to Sherman by Rockies officials.

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Brian Erni: I like the idea of upgrading the right handed offense, but I'm not sure trading for Hernandez is the proper way to do it. If the Mets are going to trade for a bat, I'd rather add one rather than replace one. Meaning, it would be nice if the Mets had another right handed option late in the game. If the bat they trade for is Hernandez, then all they do is upgrade the offense when Josh Thole is out of the lineup. It doesn't help them in the late innings, unless they carry three catchers. And I don't think that's something they're likely to do.

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Michael Baron: Disrupting the rhythm of the pitching staff is a very valid concern. From what I've seen and heard, Mike Nickeas is a well liked and highly respected member of this roster. In addition, as I said yesterday, I think chemistry has been a critical component for this team, and the pitching staff in particular. In addition, as much as they might need a right-handed bat and as poor as the production has been at the catcher position this season, their bullpen needs to be the priority right now.

In regards to Reynolds, he has been a very solid component out of the Rockies bullpen over the last three seasons, although the home run seems to be a troubling point for him. That could be a product of pitching in Coors Field ' of the seven home runs he's allowed this season, four have come at home. He doesn't handle left-handed hitters well statistically ' they're hitting .288 against him this season ' but he's been used almost as frequently against righties, and so I wonder if a role exclusively against lefties might enhance his abilities to handle them better.