On paper, a last-place New York Mets team that began Thursday with a record of 60-73 has no reason to rush star outfielder Juan Soto back for big-league action amid the final days of what will go down as a lost season for the organization. 

Soto hasn't played since July 24 due to a left calf strain. Nevertheless, he was spotted taking live at-bats as part of a full on-field workout ahead of what became an 8-1 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers at Citi Field on Wednesday night. 

Also on Wednesday, Mets interim manager Andy Green touched upon why Soto wants to play in September games that will mostly be forgettable for those involved. 

Juan Soto "wants to be a part of winning baseball" despite Mets' record

"Fans are showing up in a pretty impressive way, given where we are in this context of the season right now," Green explained, per Max Goodman of NJ Advance Media. "We’re grateful for that. I think [Soto] wants to be a part of winning baseball, and having him in the lineup makes everybody quite happy." 

As Ian Casselberry of Yahoo Sports noted, Soto missed 15 games earlier in the season with a right calf strain. Thus, one could think that the Mets wouldn't want to risk the health of the slugger who signed his 15-year, $765M contract to join the club in December 2024.

As Green alluded to, however, the Mets have given fans reasons to cheer following the Aug. 3 MLB trade deadline. Since that time, New York went from 47-66 to 60-72 before Wednesday's defeat. 

When will Juan Soto return to the Mets' lineup?

According to SNY MLB Insider Chelsea Janes, Sept. 1 is a "loose target" for when Soto will return. However, Green insisted that the Mets aren't "putting a timeline or a set goal of getting him out." 

"We’ll let how he feels dictate his timeline more than our needs," Green added about Soto. "There are moments where you’re sitting on pins and needles, waiting for your best player to get back on the field. As badly as we want that, we also understand where we are right now. So his timeline is dictated by the way he feels on a daily basis. ...He’s a competitor, and he loves playing baseball. Just getting him on the field is the next step for us." 

It remains to be seen if Soto will take a big step before the Labor Day holiday weekend arrives.