Pena, Figueroa, Nickeas Join Bisons

The Buffalo Bisons, Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets, have activated RHP Nelson Figueroa and OF Wily Mo Pena to their roster. C Michael Nickeas has also been promoted to Buffalo from the Binghamton Mets (AA) of the Eastern League.

To make roster room, the Mets have released RHP Freddy Garcia. INF Jonathan Malo has been reassigned to Binghamton while C Rene Rivera was reassigned to the Brooklyn (A) Cyclones.

Figueroa will start for the Bisons tonight as the Herd takes on the Rochester Red Wings at Frontier Field at 6:35 p.m. Figueroa was 0-0 with a 3.00ERA in two starts this year with Buffalo before being promoted to the Mets on April 18. Figueroa pitched one game for New York (L, 6.0IP, 3ER, 3K) and then was designated for assignment.

Pena is making his 2009 debut with the Bisons after being signed as a free agent on April 20. Pena hit .205 with two homeruns and 10RBI in 64 games with the Washington Nationals last season.

Nickeas, 27, has played four games with Binghamton this year (1-13, RBI). He hit .215 with two homeruns and 17RBI in 54 games with New Orleans (AAA) a season ago.

-the herd-