The Mets had loaned 38-year old lefty reliever Ricardo Rincon to Mexico City but they decided to bring him up as they need all the help they can get the last month of the season. Rincon has pitched in 42 games (0 starts) this season for Mexico City and he was 0-2 with 2 saves, a 3.82 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP. He wasn’t missing many bats for Mexico City as he allowed 48 hits in only 35.1 innings for them. Rincon has now pitched in 557 games (0 starts) in his major league career and he is 21-24 with 21 saves, a 3.58 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP. It will be interesting to see if Rincon has anything left or not.

The Mets have placed righty starting pitcher John Maine on the 15-day disabled list with a bone spur in his right shoulder. This injury could likely sideline Maine for the rest of the season which would be a major blow to the Mets’ playoff chances. Maine has started 25 games for the Mets this season and he was 10-8 with a 4.18 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. The Mets have activated 2B Luis Castillo from the D.L. to replace Maine on the active roster. Castillo has played in 68 games for the Mets this season and he is 64 for 245 (.261 avg, .696 OPS) with 42 runs scored, 3 homers, 26 RBIs and 13 stolen bases.

The Mets have signed 38-year old righty reliever Al Reyes. Reyes will help out the back end of the bullpen until Billy Wagner is ready to return to action. Reyes pitched in 26 games (0 starts) for the Rays this season and he was 2-2 with a 4.37 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. Reyes has had a solid major league career so he might have some gas left in the tank for the Mets. He has now pitched in 384 games (2 starts) in his major league career and he is 23-16 with 32 saves, a 3.82 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. Signing Reyes was a good low risk gamble for the Mets as he won’t cost them much.

The Mets have acquired 30-year old righty reliever Luis Ayala from the Nationals for infielder Anderson Hernandez. Ayala is having a rough year in 2008 but he could turn things around for the Mets as he is very talented. Ayala has pitched in 62 games (0 starts) for the Nationals this season and he is 1-8 with a 5.77 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP. Maybe a change of scenery will get Ayala back to where he needs to be. Ayala has now pitched in 320 games (0 starts) in his major league career and he is 27-32 with 9 saves, a 3.33 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. Ayala will definately help the back end of the bullpen for the Mets. Anderson Hernandez was a throwaway “prospect” for the Mets. The 25-year old switch hitting Hernandez has played in 125 games in AAA-ball this season and he is 97 for 479 (.203 avg, .569 OPS) with 57 runs scored, 5 homers, 36 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. Not exactly sterling numbers in AAA. Hernandez finished his career with the Mets having played in 35 games in which he was 12 for 87 (.138 avg, .364 OPS) with 6 runs scored, 1 homer and 3 RBIs. This was a great trade for the Mets.

29-year old lefty Johan Santana has done his part this season for the Mets. He has started 25 games this season and he is 10-7 with a 2.89 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP. He has also whiffed 141 batters in 168 innings showing that he still has outstanding stuff. He should have more wins than he does as the bullpen has had problems when he starts. The Mets also aren’t scoring a lot of runs when he pitches and that will need to change if they want to make the playoffs.