DENVER – The Mets now have three catchers and an extra pinch-hitter.
The team promoted 41-year-old Sandy Alomar Jr. from Triple-A yesterday, sending pitcher Jason Vargas back to New Orleans a day after Vargas was lit up by the Rockies.
Assistant GM John Ricco said the move was done “to get another bat in here” and also to protect the team with Paul Lo Duca’s suspension-appeal hearing tomorrow.
Alomar Jr. was hitting .323 with four homers at Triple-A. His father is the Mets’ third-base coach.
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With Vargas gone, the Mets need a starter for Sunday, the last game before the All-Star break.
Odds are, it will be lefty Dave Williams, who has a 3.38 ERA in two starts at Triple-A. Williams had missed time with a herniated disc in his neck.
Manager Willie Randolph also mentioned Philip Humber and Aaron Sele as potential starters, but intimated Williams likely will be the call-up.
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Pedro Martinez’s personal trainer, Chris Correnti, described the ace pitcher’s spirits yesterday by saying, “Everything is very good. Very good.”
Martinez, rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, took a major step Tuesday, throwing a 50-pitch simulated game in St. Lucie.
After a scheduled 1- to 1 1/2-week break, the pitcher’s next step could include either his first minor-league rehab game or another simulated game in which he goes further. The latter seems more likely, and figures to be set following next week’s All-Star break.
Martinez is projected to be back next month, and while the expectations are going to be very high, one AL team executive said yesterday, “Most people think that Pedro will not be the same guy until sometime next year.”
The exec added that many believe Martinez could be “more like a back-end starter that will need extra rest” this year.
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Carlos Delgado stays in touch with DL’d Moises Alou, and yesterday said, “I don’t know when he’s going to be back, but he said he’s feeling better.”
Alou (quad injury) is slated to head to St. Lucie next week for rehab. He could be back late this month.