Source: Mets' Juan Lagares likely back to the DL with thumb injury

NEW YORK -- New York Mets center fielder Juan Lagares is struggling to play with a partially torn ligament in his left thumb and likely bound for the disabled list and surgery, a source told ESPN.com.

The Mets plan to promote Brandon Nimmo from Triple-A Las Vegas in time for Friday's game against the Colorado Rockies to replace Lagares.

Lagares originally suffered the injury on June 4 while making a diving catch to rob Ichiro Suzuki of a run-scoring extra-base hit in Miami.

After trying to play with the injury, Lagares ultimately landed on the disabled list. He eventually returned July 2, but the thumb issue continues to nag him.

Mets officials previously have indicated that surgery likely was inevitable, but they hoped to at least delay the procedure until the offseason.

With the Mets averse to using Yoenis Cespedes in center field as he deals with flare-ups with his strained right quadriceps, the team now has no righty-hitting center fielders on their roster minus Lagares.

So perhaps the Mets will now make that a target as the non-waiver deadline nears on Monday.

Nimmo had been demoted July 18 when Michael Conforto returned to the majors. Nimmo hit .235 with one homer and four RBIs in 51 at-bats with the Mets during his first stint with the club.