Alvarez, who broke the hamate bone in his left hand and needed surgery during spring training. is expected back later this week.

Francisco Alvarez and Jeff McNeil set to return later this week meaning decision time has finally come for the Mets.

“I think difficult decisions are a good thing when we have players that we want to keep here,” president of baseball operations David Stearns said Monday before the Mets faced the Phillies at Citi Field. “As we get healthier, these decisions are going to become more and more a part of our thought process.”