Major League Baseball

Mets' Feliciano sent to Triple-A

Published Mar. 25, 2013 1:00 a.m. ET

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The New York Mets sent left-handed reliever Pedro Feliciano to Triple-A for a month to build his arm strength.

The Mets told Feliciano on Monday that he won't make the Opening Day roster.

Feliciano missed the last two seasons with the Yankees while dealing with shoulder injuries. He's spent eight years with the Mets, logging a franchise-record 92 relief appearances in 2010.

He said Monday he feels ready and will consider opting out of his minor-league contract.

''I feel good,'' Feliciano said. ''Everything is there. The velocity is a little down, but I think to get a lefty out you don't have to throw hard. You just throw strikes and be consistent. We'll see what happens in a couple days.''

The highest velocity on his fastball was around 83 mph. He gave up one run in 4 1/3 innings over eight appearances this spring. Batters were hitting .222 against him.

The 36-year-old veteran said he was ''a little'' surprised at the Mets' decision to send him to the minors.

''I think just to be here, throwing strikes and getting lefties out, I would open some minds, but they decided different than I was expecting,'' Feliciano said. ''I was just happy to be here and let people see I'm ready.''

His spring was briefly interrupted briefly when an irregular heartbeat was discovered during his physical. He was wearing a heart monitor while pitching until about a week ago.