Castillo on DL, Matthews cut; will Ollie make room for Niese?
Gary Matthews Jr. hoots as he scores on a balk at Citi Field. (April 7, 2010) Credit: David Pokress
The Mets made four roster moves Friday. But the real intrigue surrounds the one they have to make Saturday.
Jonathon Niese will be activated from the disabled list to start against Florida. The Mets would like Oliver Perez to accept a demotion to the minor leagues to make room, but GM Omar Minaya said: "We'll see how that goes. We'll have to make a decision [Saturday].''
The decisions the Mets did announce: Luis Castillo was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a bruised right heel and Ruben Tejada was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo. Tejada started at second base Friday and will play "the bulk of the time to see if he's capable of handling it," Jerry Manuel said. Tejada (1-for-4 with an RBI) was batting .294 for Buffalo and had started four games at second base.
Castillo, who has been hobbled for weeks, had a CT scan Thursday that was negative. Minaya and Manuel hope rest will be enough to heal the heel.
Gary Matthews Jr. was designated for assignment and Omir Santos was recalled from Buffalo. The Mets need a catcher for two or three days, Manuel said, because Henry Blanco is "all banged up." Blanco said he had a cortisone shot for a herniated disc in his neck Thursday. He said the shot worked and that he feels much better.
Matthews, who has another year to go on his contract, was batting .190. The Mets acquired him from the Angels in an ill-fated deal for pitcher Brian Stokes. Los Angeles agreed to pay $21.5 million of Matthews' salary for this season and next, with the Mets on the hook for about $1 million per year. Stokes, who is on the DL, has a 7.31 ERA for the Angels.
Manuel said Jason Bay will be the backup centerfielder behind Angel Pagan. That unusual situation should be remedied once Blanco mends, which will allow the Mets to call up Triple-A outfielder Jesus Feliciano. Feliciano, who turns 31 Sunday, went into Friday leading the International League in batting at .388.
Also, John Maine threw off a mound Friday for the first time since going on the DL with shoulder weakness. He is expected to do so again Saturday.
