Tom Seaver Fan Club

Mets free agent signing and potential 5th starter Tim Redding was shut  down Saturday after experiencing weakness and pain in his throwing shoulder. GM Omar Minaya has all but ruled him out for the start of the season and it appears that either veterans Livian  Hernandez, Freddy Garcia or rookie Jonathon Niese will get the nod in the 5th rotation spot. 

The club also claimed RH Fernando Nieve from the Astros Saturday. He will join the group of seven competing for 3 spots in the bullpen. Nieve joins veteran RHs Bobby Parnell, Darren O’Day, Brian Stokes and lefties Ron Villone and Casey Fossum in a battle for jobs. Minaya likes returnee Nelson Figueroa as a swing man type, (5th spot, long man combination) & is not ruling out starting the season with a lone lefty reliever(Pedro Feliciano) on the roster.