The New York Mets have announced that they have optioned LHP Jonathan Niese, RHP Conner Robertson and C Robinson Cancel to the Buffalo Bisons. The team also reassigned RHP Matt DeSalvo, LHP Casey Fossum, RHP Kyle Snyder, LHP Jon Switzer and LHP Heriberto Ruelas to minor league camp.
Niese, 22, was a combined 12-9 with a 3.44ERA last year with time at Double-A Binghamton, Triple-A New Orleans and the Mets. He totaled 155 strikeouts in 178.0 innings of work. He is rated the Mets #3 organizational prospect by Baseball America.
Robertson, 27, spent most of the 2008 season with Triple-A Tucson before joining the Arizona Diamondbacks. With Tucson, he was 7-4 with a 5.02ERA in 47 relief appearances (71.2IP). He pitched in six games out of the Diamondbacks' bullpen and was 0-1 with a 5.14ERA.
Cancel, 32, played 27 games with the Mets last year and hit .245 (12-49) with one home run and five RBI. He also hit .346 (18-52) in 15 games with Triple-A New Orleans.
The Bisons 2009 Home Opener is just 20 days away, Thursday, April 9 against the Pawtucket Red Sox at Coca-Cola Field (3:05 p.m.). Individual tickets are on sale on bisons.com or by calling THE-HERD (716-843-4373).
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