With Jon Niese scheduled to be activated from the disabled list and make the start against Florida today, the Mets will have to make another roster move. And they would like nothing better than to send Oliver Perez to the minors.
“We’ll have to see what happens and make a decision,” general manager Omar Minaya said yesterday.
So far, they haven’t been able to convince Perez to make the move.
“I have conversations with him,” manager Jerry Manuel said, “to let him know how he’s gonna be used. It’s gonna be difficult to get work at this time, but as long as you’re here, to do what’s best and try to help you get over some of the things you’re going through.”
Manuel said there were a number of options that the Mets could choose from to send down, especially with their bullpen, which is in disarray.
Manuel said that his eighth inning by committee is now being led by Elmer Dessens and Pedro Feliciano, with Jenrry Mejia “on the outside.”
That was before Dessens and Feliciano were used in the seventh.
Mejia, Ryota Igarashi and Fernando Nieve appear to all be in the same boat, with Manuel showing little faith in any of them.
As for Niese, who has been out with a hamstring injury, the lefty said that he felt “perfect” in his rehab start in Buffalo and when asked if the disable list had been needed said, “I probably could have gotten by without it, but it was probably for the best.”
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The Mets also designated Gary Matthews Jr. for assignment. To take his roster spot, they called up catcher Omir Santos because Henry Blanco is “banged up,” according to Manuel.
“We needed to protect our catching here for the next 3-4 days and if we can stay away from Henry, we will,” Manuel said.
If they decide to not keep three catchers, they could call up Jesus Feliciano from Buffalo as a backup outfielder.
“We have options,” Minaya said. “And he’s playing pretty well.”
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John Maine threw a light bullpen session yesterday and said he felt good. He will throw a bullpen session again today and toss batting practice on Tuesday.
— Additional reporting
by Mark Hale