Jason Isringhausen said he is not concerned by the elbow issue that prompted him to start taking anti-inflammatory medication. He indicated the issue is with a muscle, not with ligaments.

"It's just bad timing because it's toward the end of camp, but there's nothing you can do about it," Isringhausen said. "Throwing in a tunnel back home ain't the same as throwing in games. That's all it is. It was nothing to do with anywhere they did surgery. It's called the pronator group, which is not a stability type of thing at all. It's a muscle that slows down my wrist, from throwing cutters and curveballs. What are you going to do?"

Isringhausen had been resolute in suggesting he did not plan to go to the minors. But, he allowed Monday, perhaps staying in Port St. Lucie in extended spring training might be an option to delay an ultimate decision about whether he gets a major league deal and joins the Mets.

"If it happens, it happens, and we'll talk about it then," Izzy said. "As of right now I'm looking at being ready to go at the end of camp. That's my mindset right now. But everybody knows everything can change. You don't try to take one step forward to take three steps backward."