MLB

d’Arnaud to take over as Mets’ permanent starting catcher

MINNEAPOLIS — Travis d’Arnaud hardly aced his audition over the last three days, but showed enough ability for the Mets to believe his time has arrived.

With John Buck returning from paternity leave today, d’Arnaud will remain on the Mets roster and receive the majority of playing time at catcher. To clear roster space for d’Arnaud, the Mets optioned Anthony Recker to Triple-A Las Vegas following yesterday’s 6-1 victory over the Twins.

The 24-year-old d’Arnaud went hitless in three at-bats yesterday and is 0-for-7 with five walks over three games.

“One of the things we wanted to see over the three days is, was he within an acceptable range of performance?” general manager Sandy Alderson said. “Certainly, he demonstrated that, way beyond the threshold.”

Had the Mets optioned d’Arnaud back to Las Vegas, he likely would have returned in early September, with the expansion of rosters.

Alderson cited the additional exposure d’Arnaud will receive to the Mets pitching staff over the next few weeks and the tutelage he can receive from catching instructor Bob Geren as secondary reasons for keeping him in the major leagues.

“I’m real excited to see John and get to work with John again,” d’Arnaud said, referring to Buck. “I had a bunch of questions for him [in spring training] and he was always there for me. I’m thankful for that and being here I learned these pitchers, I know them a little bit, and it’s an honor.”

Manager Terry Collins said he will meet with the veteran Buck today to discuss his new role.

“They’re going to both play,” Collins said. “Obviously Travis is going to be out there, but John Buck deserves some playing time and he’s going to get playing time.”

* Carlos Torres was selected to start Friday’s game against the Tigers in Jenrry Mejia’s place. Mejia was placed on the disabled list Sunday with right elbow discomfort and isn’t expected to pitch again this season.

Alderson and Collins had earlier discussed the idea of starting Matt Harvey on normal rest Friday. The Mets also could have promoted pitching prospect Jacob deGrom from Triple-A Las Vegas.

But Alderson said deGrom is too close to his innings limit to be considered for 2013.

“We talked about him, and right now he is off the table,” Alderson said. “Had he been a consideration it would have been for maybe one or two starts and then the whole [40-man] roster issue comes into play.”

“There is no question that he needs to go on the roster next year and I’m fairly certain he will, but if he’s only got one or two starts left and even if he performs well he’s either optioned out for the season or sits for the rest of the season and we’re not interested in doing either one of those things.”

* Mejia and Jeremy Hefner are scheduled to be examined by doctors today. Mejia has been bothered by a bone spur and Hefner last week was diagnosed with a torn medial collateral ligament in his right elbow and could be facing Tommy John surgery.