Bad news for catchers named Omir: Brian Schneider close to returning

The Mets have a tough choice to make and they won’t be able to put it off much longer.

Brian Schneider, you know – the Opening Day catcher, is close to returning to the Mets after back and calf injuries.  (I’ve added a photo of Schneider to help jog your memory.)

Schneider was expected back as soon as early May, but the injuries piled up and he continued rehabbing in Florida.

Update – 4:11 p.m.: Schneider is at Citi Field, but has not been activated.  Adam Rubin reports he will be activated before tomorrow’s game.

Update – 5:09 p.m.: Via Rubin again:

The Mets are working the phones, trying to trade Ramon Castro before Saturday's 1:10 p.m. game, according to sources.

Via Noble Thoughts:

The club has made no announcement or given any public indication of its intentions regarding its catching, fueling speculation that any one of the three catchers -- Schneider, his original backup Ramon Castro or Omir Santos, the revelation of Mets season -- could be the odd man out. But there was an indication two weeks ago and again Friday morning that Santos, who has gained favor with manager Jerry Manuel,  would be returned to the minor leagues.

Here are some likely options:

• Send Omir Santos back to the minors.  Though it would be an unpopular move in the fans eyes, Santos has options and would be returned to Triple-A Buffalo.
• Designate Ramon Castro for assignment.  The team would have to eat Castro’s contract, but they would be shedding the injury-prone catcher.
• Trade Brian Schneider.  Not many teams are in the market for a light-hitting catcher who just spent a month on the DL, so I doubt this goes down.

The Mets will likely send Santos back to the minors, even though he’s shown that he can hold his own at the major league level and has some penchant for a timely hit.

The fans will miss you if you go, Omir.