PORT ST. LUCIE — Shaun Marcum wants the ball.
“I didn’t sign here to come on the DL,” the Mets righty said Wednesday, a day after he began taking an anti-inflammatory for soreness in his neck.
Marcum said his neck is feeling better, and he expects to be on the mound Monday or Tuesday for an extended spring training appearance before starting for the Mets later in the week.
Manager Terry Collins has Marcum scheduled to pitch April 7 against the Marlins at Citi Field.
“I’ll find a way to pitch,” Marcum said. “If I have to deal with it, I’ll deal with it, but I’ll find a way to pitch through it if I have to.”
Marcum cited Chris Carpenter’s likely retirement — the veteran Cardinals pitcher had a nerve disorder that led to shoulder problems — as the reason he became concerned with his recent neck stiffness.
“I’m not going to play forever,” Marcum said. “I have to worry about life after baseball. It was definitely a concern, but now that I’m feeling better I don’t think it was that big a deal.”
* Daniel Murphy said he expects to make his Grapefruit League debut Thursday, when the Mets face the Nationals in Viera, Fla.
It’s the strongest indicator yet that Murphy, who is recovering from a strained intercostal, will be on the Opening Day roster. The Mets wouldn’t be allowed to backdate a potential disabled list stint for Murphy if he appears in a major league exhibition game.
“Terry and I have had some talks, and I guess they’ve run it up the food chain to the front office and they like what they’ve seen,” Murphy said. “But I think I should be ready for Opening Day.”
* Jeremy Hefner still had soreness in his right elbow, a day after he was drilled by a Carlos Beltran one-hop comebacker, but said he expects to be ready for his first start of the regular season. He has been told not to throw before tomorrow.
* Collins’ rotation alignment to begin the season: Jon Niese, Matt Harvey, Dillon Gee, Hefner, Niese, Marcum. The Mets open the season with three games against the Padres before facing the Marlins for three games at Citi Field. The Padres plan to start Edinson Volquez, Clayton Richard and Eric Stults in succession. The Marlins have Henderson Alvarez, Kevin Slowey and Ricky Nolasco lined up to face the Mets.
* The Mets traded reliever Elvin Ramirez to the Angels for cash considerations.