Lucas Duda is healthy, and the Mets finally have figured out where to play him: Las Vegas. It's the same kind of decision the organization reached last month, when Ruben Tejada's quadriceps injury finally had healed and the Mets essentially told him he would have to earn his old job back.
The decision to keep Duda at Triple-A is understandable, given the solid play the Mets have received from Eric Young Jr., Juan Lagares and Marlon Byrd in the outfield in recent weeks. And Ike Davis will continue to get every chance to keep the first base job, blocking Duda's path at that position.
More confusing is Tejada's situation. Or maybe it isn't all that mystifying: The fact he isn't back in the major leagues a month after he was optioned to Las Vegas — and has played reasonably well, according to industry sources — might be an indicator the Mets have seen enough of him and are preparing to find a new starting shortstop next season.
Whether that means signing a veteran free agent as a stopgap or trying to use some of the organization's young pitching talent as bait for a higher-ceiling option is something general manager Sandy Alderson and his staff almost certainly will ponder.
Troy Tulowitzki was in last night's starting lineup at Citi Field — for the visiting Rockies — but it would be dreaming to believe the Mets would attempt to pry the perennial All-Star shortstop from Colorado.
Even without what is sure to be an astronomical asking price in terms of talent, the Mets are in no hurry to pick up the $134 million remaining on Tulowitzki's contract after this season. And they certainly aren't going to spend that kind of money on a player who has struggled to remain on the field the past two seasons.
But should the Mets be so quick to give up on Tejada? Remember, he is just 23 years old and displayed signs last season that he can be a productive major league player.
He is batting .280 with a .340 on-base percentage in 34 games at Las Vegas and has opposing scouts wondering why the Mets haven't recalled him to the major leagues.
Tejada was labeled as overweight and out-of-shape by at least one member of the organization in spring training. The tag has stuck, even as another talent evaluator called the label "100 percent bull[spit]" and said Tejada never fit the description.
"He is not out of shape and not overweight," the evaluator said. "Put a label on this kid, and it's not fair one bit. The kid loves to play baseball. All the Mets have done is [tick] the kid off. He is good enough to play in the big leagues. If it isn't with the Mets, it will be with somebody else."
Veteran Omar Quintanilla has been steady at shortstop for the Mets and could figure into the organization's plans as an insurance policy next season. Among the reasons that have been cited for not recalling Tejada is the Mets don't want to expose Quintanilla to waivers and lose him, as they did last year, when the Orioles claimed him. The team also values Justin Turner's versatility and doesn't want to be short-handed in the outfield.
But Tejada still seems to have a supporter in manager Terry Collins.
"If something should happen and we have to call up Ruben Tejada, we won't skip a beat, in my opinion," Collins said before the Mets' 5-0 win Wednesday night at Citi Field.
Nevertheless, Alderson made it clear in a radio interview last month Tejada is no longer deemed part of the Mets core.
So Tejada and Duda — whom a source said was upset to learn Wednesday that he had been optioned to Las Vegas; Duda claimed the Mets had told him he would return to the major leagues upon the completion of his rehab assignment — will have to sit and wait.
In Tejada's case, it might be wait until the Mets send him to a new team this offseason.
mpuma@nypost.com
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