Yesterday, the Mets announced that they have accepted right-handed reliever Elvin Ramirez back from the Nationals, who selected him in the Rule 5 Draft last December.

The 24-year-old missed all of last season after he was placed on the 60-day DL in March after undergoing right shoulder surgery.

In 2010, Ramirez went 4-4 with a 4.16 ERA (80 innings) with 72 strikeouts in 52 games between Class A St. Lucie and Double A Binghamton, and he never threw a professional pitch for the Nationals.

According to the rules Washington had to offer Ramirez back to the Mets for $25,000, half the price the Nats originally paid for him.

You may remember that the Mets had a similar transaction when they offered second baseman Rule 5 pick Brad Emaus back to the Blue Jays early in the season.

The other Mets Rule 5 selection, right-handed reliever Pedro Beato, stuck with the Mets the entire season making him now unrestricted Mets property. Last season, Beato posted a 4.30 ERA over 60 appearances with the Mets and he will battle for a bullpen spot in Spring Training.