The Nationals have optioned C Jesus Flores to AAA.  Flores was taken from the Mets as a part of the Rule V draft for the 2007 season.

The Nationals also activated OF Wily Mo Pena from the 15 Day DL.

Here’s a rundown of Hot Stove news this morning…

Baseball Prospectus' Future Shock this week highlights the best performers in the minor league playoffs. Here is what they had to say about the St. Lucie Mets catcher Jesus Flores.

Jesus Flores, C, High-A St. Lucie (Mets)

As St. Lucie went a perfect 5-0 to sweep their way to the Florida State League title, Flores reached base 13 times, going 8-for-17 with three walks and two HBPs. All this on the heels of a remarkable turnaround season in which the 21-year-old hit .266/.335/.487 and tied for the league lead with 21 home runs. His approach needs refinement, as does his work behind the plate, but catching prospects are hard to find, and Flores has clearly established himself as the Mets backstop of the future.

The minor league playoffs edition of Baseball Prospectus Future Shock features Jesus Flores on their list of standout postseason stars.

Jesus Flores, c, High Class A St.
Lucie (Mets)

The St. Lucie Mets cruised to the Florida State League
championship over the weekend, completing a three-game sweep of Dunedin
(Blue Jays) and going a perfect 5-0 in the post-season. In Sunday's 6-2
clincher,
Flores went 4-for-4 with a double and a stolen base to complete a
playoff run
in which he reached base 11 times; he's coming off a regular season in
which he
hit .266/.335/.487, tied the league lead with 21 home runs, and
finished
fourth in slugging. While the Mets felt strongly about Flores'
potential, this
is still a massive breakout for the 21-year-old Venezuelan who hit a Bill
Plummer-esque .216/.250/.339 last year at Low Class A Hagerstown.

Here is a rundown of yesterday's minor league action, courtesy of the always amazing Toby's Mets Minor League Report….

• Yusaku Iriki won and threw six shutout frames. 
  He struck out four.
• Edgardo
  Alfonzo launched a HR, his third for Norfolk,
  and two doubles while driving home three.  
• Rashad Eldridge, had one of
  his better nights in Norfolk
  going 3-5 with a HR and 4 RBI.  
• Lastings Milledge had a
  couple of hits at the top of the order.
• Rueben Gotay (.235/.286/.375 in 37 G) added
  a 2-5 evening with two RBI.
• Brian Bannister throws Wednesday.

Here's a rundown of yesterday's minor league action, by way of the fantastic Toby's Mets Minor League Report…

AAA

AA

A+

A-

New York Penn League (Brooklyn Cyclones)

Note : The Cyclones have won 19 of their last 23 games.

Here's some highlights of last nights minor league action courtesy of Toby's Minor League Report…

AAA

• Royce Ring blew his second save of the season.
• Chris Basak,
  who took over for Keppinger was 2-2, with a solo HR.

AA

• Carlos Gomez doubled twice and has now
  hit safely in 12 straight games to improve his season line to
  .261/.325/.390.  Over his streak he’s
  raised his batting average from .225 to .261 and has doubled six times.
  
• Michel
  Abreu was 3-3 with a double and a pair of walks

A+

• Philip Humber, as we reported yesterday by way of Metsblog, dealt five shutout innings while allowing four hits
  and striking out nine without issuing a walk.

  Kevin Goldstein from Baseball America had this to say about Humber before the start…

  Righthander Philip
  Humber has returned from Tommy John surgery and earned some rave
  reviews. “He has two big power pitches with the fastball, which is 90-94
  mph, and that curve which is just a hammer and a real out pitch,” said one
  National League scout about the third overall pick in the 2004 draft. “He
  also has a power changeup–and I love those–it's not a touch/feel pitch; its
  velocity is in the 80s so it gets there with some speed and just bottoms
  out.” Having just returned after missing nearly a year, Humber
  still struggles with his location, but the scout didn't see it as a long-term
  concern. “It's really going to depend on command and control with
  him,” the scout added. “It has to improve, but that's always an issue
  for guys coming back from TJs–there's no reason it shouldn’t improve.”

• Jesus Flores led St. Lucie’s offense
  with a 2-3 that included a solo HR in the first inning.

Metsblog reports that Baseball America's Matt Meyers profiles Mets LHP Jon Neise

Baseball Prospectus brings us its first in a series of top 10 lists for prospects at each position in the minor leagues.

Mets minor leaguer Jesus Flores comes in at 8th among all catchers in the minors.

Flores has improved every month he has played offensively and is noted as being very good defensively, with a great arm, throwing out 39% of baserunners.

From Baseball America…

ORG LVL PLAYERS                        AB  R  H  BI   AVG
NYM AAA Milledge, Lastings CF  ……   2  1  2   1  .357 - HR (1), 2B, CS,
2 BB; off to .357/.451/.595 start
NYM AA  Gomez, Carlos CF  ………..   4  1  1   0  .191 - SB (8)
NYM AA  Harper, Brett 1B  ………..   4  1  3   2  .421 - 2B (6)
NYM HiA Concepcion, Ambiorix CF  ….   6  3  4   1  .311 - 2 2B, CS
NYM HiA Flores, Jesus C  …………   5  3  4   2  .270 - 3 2B

————————-  Pitchers ———————–

ORG LVL PITCHERS                        IP  H  R  ER  BB  SO    ERA
FLA AAA Petit, Yusmeiro  ………..   5.1  9  6   6   3   3   3.86 - 3 HR,
but 9-to-2 groundouts to flyouts
NYM HiA Soler, Alay  ……………   5.0  3  1   1   1   6   0.60 - W
(1-1)