MLB

WAGNER’S ELBOW IS IMPROVING

PHILADELPHIA – Billy Wagner is back in New York and playing catch at Shea Stadium while reporting improvement in his swollen left elbow.

GM Omar Minaya said Wagner could be re-examined next week to see if he can start throwing off the mound again or if more rest is required. Wagner has been on the disabled list since Aug. 3 with elbow swelling and a strained left forearm.

Along those lines, Jerry Manuel announced he is sticking with former Nationals right-hander Luis Ayala as his closer.

“I like what he does,” Manuel said. “He’ll give us the best chance right now to close the game out.”

Ayala, who gave up the tying run in the bottom of the ninth Tuesday, easily closed out the Mets’ 6-3 win over the Phillies last night.

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The Mets moved to help out a bullpen depleted from Tuesday’s 13-inning loss by recalling right-hander Nelson Figueroa from Triple-A New Orleans.

The Mets created room on the roster for Figueroa, who was a starter for the Mets early in the season, by sending second baseman Argenis Reyes to the Zephyrs. The Mets also brought back lefty reliever Ricardo Rincon from the Mexican League and assigned him to New Orleans.

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The Red Sox are expected to help the Mets inaugurate new Citi Field next April with two exhibition games. It isn’t a done deal yet, but the games are likely to be April 3-4, just before the Mets leave for Cincinnati to open the regular season. The true opener will be the following week against the Padres.

Catcher Ramon Castro went on the DL because of the quadriceps strain. To replace him, the Mets recalled catcher Robinson Cancel from Triple-A New Orleans.