Elvin Ramirez, Thole to join Mets, Acosta to AAA

Triple-A reliever Elvin Ramirez and C Josh Thole will join the Mets on Friday at Citi Field.

Thole was put on the disabled list in early May with a concussion.

Ramirez is 3-1 with a 0.65 ERA between Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Buffalo this season. He is unscored upon in 14 2/3 innings for Buffalo, having allowed just one walk and five hits while striking out 19 in 11 games. In late 2010, he was left unprotected by the Mets and picked by the Nationals in the Rule 5 draft. However, Ramirez missed the entire year after having shoulder surgery, so the Nationals eventually returned him to the Mets.

The Mets have not announced any corresponding roster moves at this time.

In addition, Manny Acosta cleared waivers and has been sent to Triple-A Buffalo.

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Michael Baron: Ramirez has been lights out since his promotion from Double-A Binghamton. He is not on the 40-man roster, and so the Mets will have to designate someone for assignment in order to add him to the roster. The obvious candidates to be sent down are Chris Schwinden or Jack Egbert, but it will be interesting to see if either of them are DFA'd, or the Mets cut somebody else lose.

As for who Thole could replace, Rob Johnson has done a good job with the bat since he was called up, Nickeas is a well respected figure, but outside of his Grand Slam last weekend, he hasn't hit much at all. The question will be whether the Mets want the stronger defense of Nickeas at the expense of offense.