NEW YORK -- For Tommy Milone, the upside of the Brewers designating him for assignment last week was the opportunity to travel home to California, visit family and await his next move. All the while, Milone kept an eye on teams that might need pitching.
Among those clubs were the Mets, who officially claimed Milone off waivers Sunday. When he heard the news, Milone hopped in a plane and, following a requisite flight delay, arrived at Citi Field about 90 minutes before the start of Monday's 4-3 win over the Giants. Reporting immediately to the bullpen, Milone threw a bullpen session in front of pitching coach Dan Warthen.
The Mets came away from that session pleased enough to slot Milone into their rotation Wednesday afternoon against the Giants.
"You get in that limbo stage, you don't know what's going to happen," Milone said of his whirlwind few days. "It's exciting and I'm happy to be here."
A seven-year veteran of four big league teams, Milone last pitched April 29 for the Brewers, giving up four runs in two innings. He did not climb back atop a mound until his bullpen session Monday.
"Obviously he knows what he's doing," manager Terry Collins said of Milone, who is 4-5 with a 5.88 ERA in 15 starts and 10 relief appearances the past two seasons. "He's got a feel for his offspeed pitches. We'll find out when we get him out there."
Milone won't need to do much to outperform Rafael Montero, whose rotation spot he is taking. In 3 2/3 innings of his start last Friday, Montero allowed five runs on seven hits and three walks, increasing his ERA to 10.45 in seven appearances. Nor do the Mets intend to rely on Milone for long. By the end of May, the team hopes both Steven Matz and Seth Lugo will be back from the disabled list to provide additional rotation depth.
A timetable for Cespedes: Outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, who has been on the disabled list since April 28 with a strained left hamstring, showed up to Citi Field on Monday for a series of tests designed to determine why he is injured so often. Collins said the tests went well and that Cespedes should restart baseball activities within the next few days.
Barring a setback, the Mets hope Cespedes will be ready to come off the DL in approximately two weeks.