Mets Place Frank Francisco On 15-Day Disabled List With Left Oblique Strain

The Mets have placed closer Frank Francisco on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to June 23, with a left oblique strain. Francisco had been declared unavailable for last night's game against the Yankees with an unspecified side injury.

This move is a complement to the three moves the Mets made earlier tonight, activating Ruben Tejada and Ramon Ramirez from the disabled list and sending Jordany Valdespin to Triple-A Buffalo. The Mets were apparently waiting for test results on Francisco before making a final move to round out the 25-man roster. Word is that outfielder/first baseman Vinny Rottino would've been the final roster casualty had Francisco's results been more propitious.

Bobby Parnell will get the first crack at closing games in Francisco's absence. His strikeout and walk numbers are very good — 30 whiffs and just eight walks in 30 innings — and he's pretty clearly a better option than any of Jon Rauch, Ramon Ramirez, or Miguel Batista.

The Mets will continue to go with a short bullpen for the time being; most teams regularly carry twelve pitchers but the Mets will make do with one fewer than that.