Worth noting

• Second baseman Daniel Murphy (strained right intercostal muscle) played five innings at second base on Friday and served as a pinch-runner during a Minor League game against the Cardinals. The Mets hope that Murphy will be able to fully participate in another Minor League game on Saturday, putting him on track to make his Grapefruit League debut next week.

• Left-hander Johan Santana (weakness in left shoulder) threw off flat ground on Friday from distances of 45 feet and 60 feet as part of his normal throwing progression. There is still no timetable for Santana to advance to a mound.

• The Mets plan to use left-hander Aaron Laffey, who had been working out of the bullpen, as their starter in a Grapefruit League game next week. The Mets hope that stretching out Laffey will give them a measure of rotation insurance, made necessary by the overwhelming likelihood that Santana will open the season on the disabled list.