This move has been anticipated since the end of spring training, when the Giants cut the veteran lefty. Kline was lousy in 2007, with a 94+ ERA, but that season ended a streak of nine straight years in which his performance was better than league average. The Mets bullpen last night showed the advantages of having two lefties; when Ryan Madson is at full strength, he handles portside hitters well, but right now he's not, and at any rate Madson's role is as a multiple-inning reliever.

Kline will start with horrible triple-A team Lehigh Valley, and likely would be the first reliever recalled in the event of an injury or after he proves himself effective.