--INF Ruben Gotay was placed on revocable waivers Thursday, and the Mets intend to send him to the minors if he clears. Gotay, 25, has missed much of spring training with a sprained right ankle. He proved a solid reserve last year, when he hit .295 in 98 games.

--RHP Pedro Martinez completed his final spring training tune-up with 80 pitches in six innings during a minor league intrasquad game. "I got my work in and I came out healthy," Martinez said. "There's no bigger satisfaction than that." Martinez is scheduled to start the second game of the season at Florida.

--RHP Steven Register was placed on waivers. GM Omar Minaya said he likes Register, but as a Rule 5 pick, the Mets couldn't afford to carry him for a full season, "unless he can help us immediately."

--RHPs Brian Stokes, Joe Smith and Nelson Figueroa are competing for the spot as the seventh reliever. That would be RHP Duaner Sanchez's spot, but he won't be ready for the start of the season after undergoing two shoulder surgeries in the past year and a half.

--C Ramon Castro remains sidelined with a strained right hamstring and could open the season on the disabled list. If he does, it would open the way for Raul Casanova to make the squad.

--3B Fernando Tatis, who arrived late to spring training because of visa problems, is making a late run at a roster spot. The Mets like his versatility. He is hitting .250 (6-for-24) through 10 games.

BY THE NUMBERS
32 -- First-inning pitches thrown by RHP Orlando Hernandez in his first exhibition start, March 23.

QUOTE TO NOTE
"How long has he had that wind-up? Twenty years? You do something for 20 years and it's not easy to change." -- RHP Pedro Martinez on RHP Orlando Hernandez trying to adapt a new wind-up.

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