El Duque in a boot so Vargas signed, Armas solid

Orlando Hernandez will be shut down for two weeks as his foot is stabilized after his MRI showed a strain in the bunion foot. Once El Duque went back to his old delivery I knew it was only a matter of time before he was injured but I'm surprised that it happened this fast. I don't believe we can expect anything out of Hernandez, if somehow he does make it back then consider any contribution a bonus.....

The Mets' believed-to-be 42-year-old right-hander underwent and MRI has been diagnosed with a strained tendon in the front part of the foot after feeling discomfort in his last rehab outing. El Duque had already started the season on the DL while trying to build arm strength. The fifth starter was coming back from surgery for a dislocation on his second toe, and he was also plagued by a bunion on that foot late last season. source Lo Hud Journal

Omar acted swiftly by signing Claudio Vargas to a minor league deal, just last week his agent was saying that the Mets didn't appear to be a good fit and today he is officially announced. Vargas on a minor league is an excellent pickup as a backup starter or long man so that someone else can start. He had his best seasons under Omar with Schneider catching, at 29 he is still young enough to have an upside. He throws hard and has a decent curveball, his strikeout to walk ratio has always been good while his ERA is something to watch. But in the last two years he has 24 major league wins under his belt, could you ask for much more from a fifth starter........

The Mets announced today that they have signed righthanded pitcher Claudio Vargas to a minor league contract. Vargas will report to extended spring training in Port St. Lucie, FL before joining New Orleans (AAA) of the Pacific Coast League. source Newsday

In his second appearance for the Zephyrs Tony Armas Jr. showed signs of progression to major league quality stuff. Armas' visa problems slowed him down this spring and he's just now getting up to speed. Last night he went five innings in which he allowed one run on five hits and one walk walk while striking out five.......

Armas, who allowed three runs and nine hits in five innings against Nashville in his first start, allowed five hits Wednesday. He struck out five and walked one.
"I'm kind of building up," Armas said. "I felt much better today. I only had two starts in spring training. We're playing pretty good. We just have to keep leaving those low scores for the offense." source NOLA.com