Still no timetable for the return of Mets stars Reyes, Beltran and Delgado

Mets still waiting for Reyes, Beltran, Delgado

NEW YORK — The New York Mets still don’t know when Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran and Carlos Delgado might return, leaving the depleted team looking for runs as the second half gets started.

“Much as you hate to point to the injuries, they are very significant,” Mets manager Jerry Manuel said before Thursday night’s game at Atlanta.

Rookie outfielder Fernando Martinez won’t be back anytime soon. He had surgery this week to repair a tear in his right knee and is expected to miss six to eight weeks.

The Mets called up infielder Angel Berroa from Triple-A Buffalo on Thursday before opening a series at Atlanta. The 31-year-old Berroa, the 2003 AL Rookie of the Year, hit .136 with one RBI in 21 games for the New York Yankees and was released this month.

General manager Omar Minaya also said pitcher John Maine, out since early June because of pain in his right shoulder, could be ready to throw in a minor league game within 10 days.

As for the big hitters, no timetable yet. Any trade possibilities to fill the gaps?

“I talked to five or six GMs today,” Minaya said. “Couple of things out there, in the works.”

The Mets resumed after the All-Star break at 42-45, trailing NL East-leading Philadelphia by 6½ games.

“We didn’t catch breaks in the first half,” Minaya said.

Reyes, the shortstop and speedy leadoff hitter, has been on the disabled list since late May because of bad right calf. He’s been working out at the Mets’ spring training complex in Port St. Lucie, Fla., and Minaya said there was a chance he could be back in the majors this month.

“He’s much closer today than he was a week ago,” Minaya said.

Beltran had an MRI exam during the break that showed a bone bruise below his right knee has not gone down enough to let him play. The All-Star center fielder has been out since late June and is “still going to be in an area of rehab,” Minaya said.

Minaya didn’t want to predict Beltran would be back in July.

“The question is can he play with a bruise there?” he said.

Delgado had surgery on his right hip in mid-May. At the time, the slugging first baseman was expected to be gone until mid-August. Minaya said he’d received an “encouraging” report on Delgado.

The Mets optioned infielder Argenis Reyes to Buffalo on July 13 and had an open spot on the roster.

AP freelance writer Amy Jinkner-Lloyd in Atlanta contributed to this report.