The Mets have signed 27-year old righty swinging outfielder Wily Mo Pena to a minor league contract. Pena played in 64 games for the Nationals last season and he was 40 for 195 (.205 avg, .510 OPS) with 10 runs scored, 2 homers and 10 RBIs. He has now played in 560 games in his 7-year major league career in which he is 402 for 1,590 (.253 avg, .754 OPS) with 196 runs scored, 77 homers, 225 RBIs and 12 stolen bases. The Mets will likely take it slow with Pena who could help them out in the second half of the 2009 season.

The Mets have designated righty reliever Darren O’Day and righty starting pitcher Nelso Figueroa for assignment. O’Day pitched in 4 games (0 starts) for the Mets this season and he was 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA and a 2.00 WHIP. The Angels will probably want O’Day back if he clears waivers as the Mets picked him off their roster in the Rule 5 Draft over the winter. Figueroa pitched in 1 game (a start) for the Mets this season and he was 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. The Mets will probably keep Figueroa if he clears waivers to pitch in AAA. The Mets have recalled 31-year old lefty Casey Fossum to help the pitching staff. He has pitched in 2 games (both starts) in AAA-ball this season and he is 0-0 with a 0.82 ERA and a 0.91 WHIP. Fossum has pitched in 234 games (120 starts) in his major league career to date and he is 40-53 with 2 saves, a 5.47 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP. Don’t expect much out of Fossum who has never been a good major league pitcher.

The Mets have placed starting catcher Brian Schneider on the 15-day disabled list with a muscle strain in his back. He has played in 7 games for the Mets this season and he is 3 for 21 (.143 avg, .440 OPS) with 3 runs scored and 3 RBIs. Schneider will be replaced in the starting lineup by Ramon Castro. Castro has played in 6 games for the Mets so far this season and he is 3 for 16 (.188 avg, .653 OPS) with 1 run scored, 1 homer and 3 RBIs. Castro has a lot more power than Schneider does so he will likely help out the lineup. Omir Santos has been called up to back up Castro. He has played in 3 games for the Mets so far this season and he is 2 for 5 (.400 avg, 1.400 OPS) with 2 runs scored.

The Mets have designated 35-year old lefty swinging outfielder Marlon Anderson for assignment to make room on the active roster for #5 starter Livan Hernandez. Anderson played in 4 games for the Mets this season and he was 0 for 4 (.000 avg) with 1 whiff. He has played in parts of four seasons for the Mets in which he was 113 for 446 (.253 avg) with 61 runs scored, 11 homers, 54 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. This might end Anderson’s career with the Mets but some team would probably give him another chance.

The Mets will probably platoon 30-year old lefty swinging Ryan Church and 40-year old righty swinging Gary Sheffied in RF in 2009. Church played in 90 games for the Mets last season and he was 88 for 319 (.276 avg, .785 OPS) with 52 runs scored, 12 homers and 49 RBIs. He played in 83 games in RF last season for the Mets and he made only 1 error while showing good range. Church also has a good arm as he had 7 assists in only 83 games in RF. The Mets just hope that Church can stay healthy as he had concussion issues in 2008.

Gary Sheffield played in 114 games for the Tigers last season and he was 94 for 418 (.225 avg, .726 OPS) with 52 runs scored, 19 homers, 57 RBIs and 9 stolen bases. The Mets will need Sheffield to hit well to make up for his probably pretty poor defense as he has been a DH the last couple of seasons.

Fernando Tatis could also get some playing time in RF if Sheffield is toast. Tatis played in 39 games in RF last season for the Mets making 0 errors while showing poor range.

27-year old switch hitting Angel Pagan will be around again in 2009 for the Mets but he will start the season on the D.L. Pagan played in 31 games for the Mets last season and he was 25 for 91 (.275 avg, .720 OPS) with 12 runs scored, 13 RBIs and 4 stolen bases.

32-year old switch hitting Bobby Kielty will likely start the season in AAA and provide the Mets with some outfield insurance. Kielty played in 49 games in Rookie+A+AAA ball last season and he was 38 for 163 (.233 avg, .770 OPS) with 21 runs scored, 5 homers and 32 RBIs.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2009 SEASON: C