Santana gets OK to start vs. Yankees

The Mets made sure ace Johan Santana would start Friday's opener of the Subway Series at Yankee Stadium by bringing up veteran right-hander Claudio Vargas to pitch tonight against the Nationals. As well as purchasing the contracts of Vargas and utilityman Fernando Tatis from Triple-A New Orleans, the Mets also activated reliever Matt Wise while designating pitchers Jorge Sosa and Nelson Figueroa for assignment and placing outfielder Angel Pagan (bruised shoulder) on the disabled list.

Bringing Vargas to replace Figueroa in the rotation, though, was the Mets' most prominent decision yesterday. The ex-Brewer was released by Milwaukee in a salary dump late in spring training, then signed with the Amazin's in part because he had played under GM Omar Minaya in Montreal. Continue