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Reyes To DL, Bottalico Sent Packing

According to Mets.com, Jose Reyes will indeed begin the season on the disabled list. It is not clear how long he will be out for, though his hamstring will keep him out for at least the first week of the season.

Reyes' stint on the DL will allow the Mets to carry 12 pitchers, with Orber Moreno and Dan Wheeler coming north for the regular season, at least for the time being. When Reyes is reactivated, one reliever will be reassigned to AAA Norfolk. That leaves little room for journeyman Ricky Bottalico, who, despite a strong showing in Spring Training, was informed on Saturday that he had not made the team. Ricky took it like a man:

"I pitched well enough to make the team and I just didn't fit in. I wanted to prove that I was healthy and I did that."

Bottalico became expendable when the Mets decided to move Grant Roberts back to the bullpen. Had Roberts earned a spot in the starting rotation, Bottalico likely would have made the club.

"Basically what they said was that a day and a half ago I was on the team. But with all the things with Grant going to the pen, circumstances changed. I'm not upset, I just wish it happened earlier."

Bottalico shouldn't have a problem catching on as a middle reliever with another club.