The New York Mets announced today that they have selected the contracts of right-handed pitcher Claudio Vargas and infielder/outfielder Fernando Tatis from Triple-A New Orleans of the Pacific Coast League, activated right-handed pitcher Matt Wise from the 15-Day disabled list, designated righthanded pitchers Jorge Sosa and Nelson Figueroa for release or assignment and placed outfielder Angel Pagan on the 15-Day disabled list, with a left shoulder contusion. In addition, catcher Raul Casanova cleared waivers and will be assigned to New Orleans.
Vargas will wear No. 39, Tatis will don No. 17 and Wise is wearing No. 38 and all three are available for tonight's game vs. Washington.
Vargas was 1-1 with a 4.91 ERA in two starts for New Orleans. In 11 innings, he allowed 13 hits, six runs, earned, with one walk and 11 strikeouts. In Claudio's last start, on May 8th, he hurled 7.0 shutout innings vs. Fresno, surrendering four hits, no walks with seven strikeouts. He also made one start for Class A St. Lucie of the Florida State League. In that outing, he worked five innings, permitted three hits, two runs, one earned, with no walks and six strikeouts.
Vargas, 29, was signed to a Minor League contract by the New York Mets on April 10. Claudio was released by Milwaukee on March 25 earlier this spring. The 6-foot-4, 238-pounder was 3-1 with a 3.86 ERA in five spring training starts before he was released. In 18.2 innings, he allowed 17 hits, eight runs, earned, with six walks and 10 strikeouts. Opponents hit .238 against him.
Vargas went 11-6 with one save and a 5.09 ERA in 29 games, 23 starts last year for the Milwaukee Brewers. In 134 1/23 innings, he allowed 153 hits, 80 runs, 76 earned, with 54 walks and 107 strikeouts.
In 2006, Vargas was 12-10 with a 4.83 ERA in 31 games, 30 starts. In 167.2 innings, he surrendered 185 hits, 101 runs, 90 earned, with 52 walks and a career-high 123 strikeouts.
Claudio has posted a 43-38 career mark with a 4.95 ERA. In 153 games, 110 starts, he's pitched 666.2 innings, yielding 715 hits, 396 runs, 367 earned, with 258 walks and 476 strikeouts.
Tatis, 33, leads the Pacific Coast League and is third overall in the minors with 12 home runs. He is batting .242 with 18 runs scored, 31 RBI, with 17 walks and 23 strikeouts.
Fernando batted .276 (137-497) with 90 runs scored, 31 doubles, five triples, 21 home runs and 67 RBI in 131 games for the Zephyrs in 2007.
Wise was placed on 15-day DL, retroactive to April 2, with a contusion to his right forearm. He was 0-1 in two games with the Mets, surrendering three hits and one run in one inning of work. Matt pitched four scoreless and hitless innings in three major league rehabilitation games for St. Lucie with no walks and six strikeouts.
Sosa was 4-1 with a 7.06 ERA in 20 games with New York this season. In 21 2/3 innings, he allowed 30 hits, 23 runs, 17 earned, with 11 walks and 12 strikeouts.
Figueroa went 2-3 with a 5.12 ERA in nine games, six starts with the Mets this year. In 38.2 innings, he permitted 39 hits, 24 runs, 22 earned, with 24 walks and 29 strikeouts.
Pagan, who injured his shoulder making a diving catch on May 7th at Los Angeles, is hitting .275 (25-91) with seven doubles, one triple and 13 RBI in 31 games with the Mets.