The New York Daily News’ Adam Rubin reports on two Mets starters that might not be ready to go this week.

Mike Cameron felt “abnormal pain” in his surgically repaired left wrist and Kris Benson had his first start this season pushed back two days because of a pectoral strain. And as the Mets break camp today, two ill-timed health issues have created cause for concern, even if Omar Minaya offered a rosy spin.

Cameron (above), who had Dec. 17 arthroscopic surgery to fix damaged cartilage, will be in New York today for an MRI after he awoke yesterday unable to swing. Minaya, relying on team doctors’ preliminary opinions, said Cameron likely was experiencing scar-tissue breakup, a condition that could clear by Opening Day. Cameron hadn’t felt anything this serious since he first picked up a bat after surgery.

Benson quietly left camp Wednesday for an MRI in New York after he felt awkwardness in an upper chest muscle Monday against St. Louis. He was scheduled to start Thursday in Cincinnati, but will swap with Kaz Ishii, who was slated to pitch next Saturday in Atlanta.

Benson said he resisted even going for the medical exam and maintained he could take his regular start. “I guess that just put their mind at ease more than mine, because I knew it was nothing major,” he said.

Cameron said he “wouldn’t assume” he would miss Opening Day, but the return of Victor Diaz may be pending. Cameron had an X-ray yesterday, but that wouldn’t provide the necessary info about potential damage.

“I just woke up this morning and couldn’t function the way I wanted to,” Cameron said. “I just tried to take a swing. It wasn’t the way I wanted to feel.

“No matter how much we feel we’re back, when you have surgery, there’s things that have to break down in there,” Cameron continued, referring to scar tissue. “I guess today wasn’t my day. I didn’t want it to be now. Hopefully I wake up tomorrow and everything is fine.”


(Not only has he been traded, but Ginter’s audition for the Tower Recordings didn’t work out so well, either)

Facing an abundance of middle/long relief, the Mets today traded archery-enthusiast Matt Ginter to the Tigers in exchange for LHP Steve Colyer, whom some you might remember from his days leading the excellent Doctor’s Mob (below).

Florida P Al Leiter is already in midseason form; 4 IP, two hits, two runs, 6 walks and 94 pitches against a squad of St. Louis minor leaguers yesterday.

Suffering from a strained right elbow, Dodgers closer Eric Gagne was placed on the 15 day DL yesterday for the first time in his career.

Lost (by me, anyway) admist Reggie Jackson’s teeth gnashing over the Oakland sale to Selig crony Lewis Wolff and Gap heir John Fisher, was the news that A’s GM Billy Beane has received a contract extension, as well as an ownership stake in the team.