Mets Promote Carlos Torres, Demote Burke, DFA McHugh

The Mets made a couple of roster moves after Saturday’s game, and there will be more to come next week.

The Mets promoted Carlos Torres from Las Vegas. The 30-year-old righthander is pitching well in the minors, with a 6-3 record and a 3.89 ERA in 12 starts. He just won the PCL’s Pitcher of the Week. He’s been less than successful in previous major league stints, though, going 6-6 with a 5.97 ERA in parts of three seasons, mostly out of the bullpen, where he would pitch for the Mets.

Torres exercised an opt out in his contract, so the Mets had to promote him or lose him. They decided to keep him, so Greg Burke was sent back down. To make room for Torres on the 40-man roster, Collin McHugh was designated for assignment.

Zack Wheeler is definitely being called recalled on Tuesday, and Scott Atchison could be ready on the same day, so two more pitchers will have to go away.

Shaun Marcum should be released, but that is unlikely to happen.

One has to wonder if Jeremy Hefner might be a casualty. He could get bumped from the rotation and Torres could take his place as long man out of the pen. That wouldn’t be fair — although he is 1-6 with a 4.11 ERA, Hefner has been pitching very well of late with four straight quality starts.

David Aardsma and Josh Edgin are the most recent additions to the bullpen, but they have both been pitching well since their recalls.

LaTroy Hawkins could be released. He’s had good and bad stretches thus far, but he is 40 years old, after all; he is not the future of the bullpen.

I would cut the veterans Marcum and Hawkins, but I think it will be Hefner and Hawkins who are gone by the middle of next week. Hefner would go to Las Vegas and wait for the eventual failure of another pitcher. Hawkins can begin his retirement. Retirement at 40 — not a bad thing.