Perez, Easley and Wise file for FA

Oliver Perez, Damion Easley and Matt Wise (remember him?) all filed for free agency on Thursday. The Mets have 15 days to negotiate with these players, and any other players who file from the 2008 team.

Do not expect Perez to sign any time soon. His agent is Scott Boras, which means they're going to play the field and wait for the highest possible bidder. The Mets will make a play for him, but it will be a very drawn out process.

Other pitchers that could fill the two voids: Jon Garland, Derek Lowe or Randy Wolf.

Easley is a tough one. He was great off the bench and filled in at second base when Luis Castillo went down with an injury. Anderson Hernandez also saw time at 2B, but his light hitting gave Easley an opening. He's getting up there in age, but he's a tough veteran, who has been with the team for a few years. He might be cursed though, as he still hasn't played in a postseason game.

I can see the team bringing him back, but I wouldn't be surprised if he's not a Met when Citi Field opens.

And then there's Wise. He only appeared in eight games last season after signing a $1.2 million contract. Don't expect him back. You might see him on a milk carton sometime soon, though.

Remember me? The missing Mets

Have a good memory? See if you remember these Mets...

from left to right: Moises Alou, Orlando Hernandez, Matt Wise, Ambiorix Burgos, Angel Pagan

Honorable mention: Ryan Church, who returned to the lineup yesterday against the Yankees.

These five players have appeared in a combined 54 games for the New York Mets in 2008. Two of them have not appeared in any games...at any level.

Alou has played in 15 games for the team, and is looking to come off his third DL stint, possibly as early as this weekend. A habitual member of the DL and has appeared in only 102 games for the Mets in two years. Alou is often seen without batting gloves and may or may not be riding around in a Rascal Personal Scooter.

El Duque has appeared in a total of 47 games for the Mets since coming over in a trade from Arizona for Jorge Julio. He has not pitched at all, in any level of professional baseball in 2008 and has been in a protective boot for months. Look for the limp and/or high leg kick.

Wise came to the Mets as a free agent in before the '08 season. Two stops on the DL has limited his playing time to only eight games (seven innings) for the team, sporting a 6.43 ERA. He's lanky, and that's about all the info we have on him.

Burgos has only appeared in 17 games for the Mets since coming over on December 6, 2006 for Brian Bannister. Burgos is often seen wearing lots and lots of bling, if it has not already been stolen.

Pagan, who had a breakout spring training to catch on with the Alou-less Mets, registered 91 AB in 31 games for the team. He went down with a shoulder injury after making a spectacular diving grab into the stands on May 7th. He may need surgery, which would cost him significantly more time off. Pagan can be seen jumping into the stands and hitting one game winning hit for the team.

If seen, please call the New York Mets at 718-507-METS.

Early Morning Madness -- 6/5

I expected the Mets turnaround to be a very drawn out affair. Win a few games here, take two days off, win a few more. A two steps forward, one step back type of deal.

Right now, they seem to just be putting the pedal to the metal and cranking it to sixth gear. My only fear is that they will tease us with a very long winning streak, or string of games where they go 7-3 over 10 games (oh, wait!) and then suddenly have everything fall apart and start losing again.

Then things will really get out of hand in the media. Just something to chew on.

*****

Jose Reyes is hot. Carlos Beltran is hot. Most of the team is hot. And I am a happy man.

*****

I'm wondering if we'll ever see Matt Wise pitch again in a Mets uniform. He just can't seem to get healthy and the latest injury smells like something he'll need surgery for. Just a hunch though.

*****

So long, John Smoltz. You're gone for this year, and possibly your career. For the sake of Mets fans everywhere, just hang them up already.

Very Un-Wise

Matt Wise is back on the shelf.

The Mets placed Wise back on the 15-day disabled list with, and I quote, "weakness in his throwing (right) shoulder."

I really don't think the bullpen will miss a beat, and actually, I feel it improves, as Carlos Muniz gets called up from AAA New Orleans. Muniz is 2-2 on the year with a 1.80 ERA in 16 games.

Wise is truly not performing up to snuff and earning his money. I thought he was going to be a nice, solid middle reliever for us this year, but his inability to stay healthy has pretty much put an end to any thinking of that nature.

The roster shuffle

Off the Mets: Nelson Figueroa and Jorge Sosa have been designated for assignment. Angel Pagan has been placed on the 15-day DL.

On the Mets: Matt Wise was activated off the disabled list. Fernando Tatis and Claudio Vargas were called up from New Orleans.

Bye Figueroa, I'll miss you. Willie Randolph, when speaking to Eddie Coleman on WFAN, said he hopes Figueroa clears waivers and would like to see him as a long man out of the bullpen. I have to agree. Opposing teams are batting well under .200 against Figueroa the first time through the order, so he'd be perfect.

On Sosa, I'm so happy about. Took them long enough. Same for Wise.

The battle between Pagan and Tatis will begin. If Tatis can do anything worthwhile, I can see Pagan staying in AAA after he's healed up. Omar Minaya likes Tatis, so I think Tatis is in for the long haul.

For Vargas, I will abstain comment on until after tomorrow's start.

Overall, good moves by the Mets.

Poor Joe Smith

Ed. note: This entire post seems to be moot now.

After striking out the side on Monday night, the Mets rewarded Joe Smith with a demotion.

The Mets sent Smith back to the minors to make room for a spot starter for Wednesday's game, rather than pitch Johan Santana or Mike Pelfrey on short rest.

As I mentioned before, Adam Bostick was pulled from his start in AAA after three scoreless innings. According to Adam Rubin, Willie Collazo's name has also been tossed around.

Rubin also reports that after Wednesday's game, when the spot starter, whoever he is, is sent back to the minors, the Mets will activate Matt Wise from the disabled list.

Really, poor Joe Smith. He's probably been the best pitcher in the entire bullpen, aside from Billy Wagner. Just because he has options, and they don't owe his $2 million (Jorge Sosa), he gets demoted. Hopefully, the Mets realized their mistake and cut Sosa and eat the $2 mil.

They probably make that much off hot dog sales between the 3rd and 5th inning of a Wednesday night game anyway.

Castillo diagnosed with strained quad

Just as he was getting hot...

Luis Castillo will likely spend some time on the disabled list after pulling up while running into third with a triple in Sunday's game.

And MRI showed a strain in the muscle, which will likely put Castillo on the DL, possibly making some other moves easier for the Mets. If they game is still played tonight, which it looks like it will be, the Mets will need a spot starter for Wednesday's game.

If they put Castillo on the DL, and bring up Adam Bostick, as I mentioned before, and then activate Matt Wise after the game, everything seems to work out, though they will run without a bench player for some time.

This stinks. Just as the Mets got their starting lineup back and looked like they were starting to click as a team, one cog goes down. Here's to a speedy recovery and being able to pick up where you left off.

Joe Smith will be optioned to AAA, eventually

Depending on how the games are played out on Saturday, Joe Smith may be optioned to AAA after the second game, or maybe not at all.

The Mets plan is to send Smith to the minors to make room for Matt Wise to come back off the DL.

Marty Noble lays it out:

But now Wise has rejoined the team, though he hasn't been added to the roster. When he is, Smith will be optioned to Triple-A, despite his effective pitching. That is the plan, a person in the Mets hierarchy said Friday. But the postponement of the Mets' game against the Reds on Friday night, the resulting doubleheader on Saturday and the chance for bullpen overload in two games prompted the club to retain Smith on the roster.

If Smith pitches in the first game, he could be assigned to the Minor Leagues to accommodate Wise on the roster for the second game. If Smith doesn't pitch in the first game, the Mets might not make a roster move until Sunday. And if Smith isn't used in the doubleheader, the club could not make a move with Wise until after Smith does pitch.

I love Smith, and I think he has a big future with this team. It's too bad that he's pitching so well and he's going to get demoted. He's very young, so I know he'll be back when (not if) someone in the bullpen goes down with an injury.

I really couldn't gauge Wise's effectiveness as a pitcher, as he only pitched a grand total of two games, posting a 9.00 ERA. I always liked him when he was with Milwaukee, though. I just hope he can post numbers like Smith, otherwise this move looks bad.

Guess the Mets are married to Jorge Sosa.

Pagan will get an MRI

According to Adam Rubin, Angel Pagan will receive an MRI on his right shoulder.

Pagan started in left field on Wednesday and in the bottom of the first inning made a beautiful grab in foul territory. The catch carried him into the stands, where he flipped onto his head. Pagan put his arm out to brace his fall, and seemed to tweak it.

Pagan stayed down in the stands for a while as trainers, coaches and players gathered around him. He eventually got up and remained in the game. He was later removed with "shoulder tightness," as Endy Chavez replaced him in the game.

Rubin theorizes that "the Mets could put Pagan on the DL as a vehicle to activate both Matt Wise and Ramon Castro this weekend. Willie Randolph told the Daily News on Tuesday that he’d speak with GM Omar Minaya about carrying 13 pitchers in the short term to avoid having to part with Joe Smith, Jorge Sosa or even Nelson Figueroa."

Excellent theory. Sounds viable to me.

Injury updates: Pedro, Wise, Castro

David Lennon in Newsday relays info that Pedro Martinez has begun throwing off a mound in Port St. Lucie.

According to Assistant GM John Ricco, Pedro could face live hitters as early as this week, but in the end, "it just depends on how he's feeling. Patience is part of the process."

A few weeks ago, Pedro was not missed. Now, with Mike Pelfrey beginning to struggle a bit, the Mets could use a guy like him back in the rotation. Don't hurry yourself, Pedro.

*****

Adam Rubin reports in The Daily News that both Matt Wise and Ramon Castro may be activated by next weekend's series against the Cincinnati Reds.

Wise, who went on the DL with a strained forearm on April 2, is expected to throw in back-to-back games to test his arm and stamina, a la Duaner Sanchez's recovery benchmarks.

Castro could have been actiavated already, according to Rubin, but the Mets don't want two catchers with health issues on the roster at the same time. Leaving Raul Casanova up with the big squad gives them a steady, healthy catcher in case Brian Schneider can't go due to his thumb.

When Wise comes back, the Mets have a decision to make. Joe Smith has options, and is the most likely one to head back to AAA. So does Jorge Sosa, who before Arizona was almost entirely ineffective. Joe Janish from Mets Today also points out Aaron Heilman has options, but I think some barnyard animals need to sprout wings and take to the air before he goes anywhere.

And I've missed the Darth Vader walk-up music at Shea this year. Great to see Castro coming back soon.

Just a thought: Fixing the bullpen

Matt Wise replaces Heilman as the 6th or 7th inning guy. Duaner Sanchez takes over in the 8th. Stretch Aaron Heilman to the long relief role, which will be as close as he's going to get to starting.

Make Jorge Sosa go away.

Sanchez getting close

Duaner Sanchez is close to making his return to the major leagues, as he will attempt to pitch tonight in AAA ball, which would be his first back-to-back outing.

If he completes this final test, he could be back with the Mets by early next week.

He threw a scoreless inning last night, needing only 12 pitches, and walking one. While in the minors, he has thrown five innings, giving up two runs.

Obviously Carlos Muniz is the odd man out if/when Sanchez comes back. When Matt Wise is healthy again, it will get a little more confusing. Joe Smith made the team because Sanchez was on the shelf, but Smith has been stellar so far the season. Tough choice for the Mets, but a good tough decision.

Wise to DL; Muniz coming up

Matt Wise, who is suffering from forearm stiffness, looks like he's heading to the disabled list, according to Adam Rubin. The Mets will call up Carlos Muniz.

From Rubin:

Wise appears headed for a DL trip with right forearm stiffness, which has sidelined the righthander since he surrendered a game-winning homer to Florida's Robert Andino in the 10th inning on Tuesday.

"I've had three elbow surgeries, and this doesn't feel like anything," said Wise, who signed a one-year, $1.2 million contract after spending the past four seasons with Milwaukee.

The Mets intend to call up Carlos Muniz from Triple-A New Orleans.

As long as Wise is just a little sore, with a tweak or something, and can bounce back quickly from this it will be all right.

Muniz has appeared in two games in AAA, pitching 6 2-3 of an inning, allowing six hits and two earned runs. He has walked one and struck out four while on the mound. So Muniz is looking pretty good at AAA, and he'll get his shot very early.

This is exactly why you stockpile arms, no matter what.