Mets CF Carlos Beltran cleared for rehab assignment; Santana and Perez set for surgery

Mets CF Beltran cleared for rehab assignment

NEW YORK — Carlos Beltran is set to begin a minor league rehab assignment.

The New York Mets’ All-Star center fielder, sidelined since June 22 with a bone bruise on his right knee, was examined Monday by team medical director Dr. David Altchek and cleared to play without his knee brace.

Beltran is slated to be in the lineup Wednesday night for Class-A Brooklyn against visiting Hudson Valley.

In other news, Mets pitchers Johan Santana and Oliver Perez are scheduled for surgery Tuesday. Santana will have bone chips removed from his left elbow. Perez is to have scar tissue extracted from the patella tendon of his right knee.

The injury-depleted Mets say both pitchers should be ready for spring training.

New York also recalled catcher Josh Thole from Double-A Binghamton.

Beltran was batting .336 with eight homers and 40 RBIs when he was placed on the disabled list.

Santana, a two-time Cy Young Award winner, went 13-9 with a 3.13 ERA in 25 starts this year. Perez, slowed by his sore knee, was a bust in the first season of a $36 million, three-year contract. He finished 3-4 with a 6.82 ERA in 14 starts.

Both operations will be performed by Altchek and Mets physician Dr. Struan Coleman.