MILWAUKEE _ The blows keep on coming for the Mets.
Mets closer Jeurys Familia's season could be over after undergoing surgery for a blood clot in his right shoulder, according to Mets general manager Sandy Alderson. Familia underwent surgery Friday in St. Louis that was performed by Dr. Robert Thompson, and Alderson is uncertain whether Familia will be able to return to the team this year.
Familia's surgery was not for Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, according to Alderson, and the pitcher has been placed on the 10-day disabled list.
"We do believe this is something that is going to keep him out several months and it's possible he'll be back by the end of the year, it's possible he won't," Alderson said before the Mets faced the Brewers. "We just don't know at this point."
Familia first mentioned to the team's trainers Wednesday that he had some tingling in his right ring finger, and was examined during the game. The closer blew his first save of the season that afternoon, allowing four runs in the 6-5 loss to the Giants.
"He was cleared to pitch. It was a minor vascular symptom they wanted to follow up on as a precaution as they did the following day," Alderson said of how the team handled Familia. "That ring finger I believe Jeurys said he didn't use that finger when he pitches. He wasn't worried about it from a pitching standpoint so he was cleared to pitch."
Familia then underwent tests Thursday at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan, and was diagnosed with a blood clot. The 27-year-old flew to St. Louis on Thursday night, and underwent the surgery on Friday after meeting with Thompson.
Alderson did not have details of the type of surgery Familia underwent.
With Familia sidelined, the Mets will use Addison Reed as their closer moving forward. Alderson said the team will evaluate internal options before external avenues. The trade market figures not to be ripe just yet since the season is not yet at the quarter mile.
The Mets may carry an extra reliever going forward.
"As far as external possibilities are considered, there are always possibilities," Alderson said prior to this three-game series. "We are going to take a look at two or three people internally over the weekend and next week and decide from there."
Losing Familia puts an even bigger burden on an already taxed bullpen that has thrown the seventh-most innings in the majors this year. The Mets starting pitchers are tied for the 24th-most innings in the majors, and have not pitched deep into games.
Alderson is hopeful the starters can help out but acknowledged it may be tough since the unit is missing Noah Syndergaard (lat), Steven Matz (elbow) and Seth Lugo (elbow).
"I think here is that hope but we have to be realistic took and look at the rotation we have and recognize that it's not what we had hoped at the beginning of the year and so I think it would be foolish for us to say well the starting pitchers are going to have to go deeper," Alderson said. "It would be nice if it goes deeper, I don't think we can count on that consistently over time which is why we've carried an extra arm in the bullpen and why we may have to carry an extra arm going forward."
Losing Familia is the latest setback for a team that is already without its top hitter in Yoenis Cespedes (hamstring) and top starter in Syndergaard.
Said Alderson: "We've been hit pretty hard with some of our key players."
