Collins: Tejada has criteria to meet before returning

MILWAUKEE -- If Ruben Tejada wants to reach the big leagues again, he will need to meet all the criteria on Terry Collins' checklist.

"I want to hear about quality at-bats," the Mets manager said of Tejada, who was activated from the disabled list Saturday and optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas. "I want to hear about the fact that that first-step quickness is back. He's not Jose Reyes, but this guy had real great instincts to the ball. I want to make sure I hear that that's back -- that he's getting to baseballs, he's getting a good read on the ball off the bat in a tough place to play. So if he's getting it there, I know that he's getting ready."

Collins said it is "possible" that Tejada eventually returns to the Mets in a backup role, but that the team did not consider activating him in that fashion this weekend.