Injured New York Mets closer Billy Wagner is to throw a simulated game this weekend and will be activated when he's eligible to come off the disabled list Monday.

Wagner, out with a strained left forearm, pitched a scoreless inning and struck out two batters in a rehab assignment for Double-A Binghamton yesterday.

"All I know is that he's healthy and he threw the ball well," New York manager Jerry Manuel said before the start of a series against Pittsburgh.

There were plans for Wagner to pitch a second game for Class-A Brooklyn, but Manuel said Mets pitching coach Dan Warthen wanted to see the left-hander pitch today.

"We'll get him here, so Dan can see him against some hitters," Manuel said.

Wagner, an All-Star this season, is 0-1 with 27 saves and a 2.30 ERA in 45 games.

Yankees: Slumping center fielder Melky Cabrera was demoted to the minors, the biggest move in a mini shakeup by New York. The Yankees also designated backup first baseman Richie Sexson for assignment and placed pitcher Dan Giese on the disabled list. The club brought up three players from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre: outfielder Brett Gardner, infielder Cody Ransom and reliever Chris Britton.

Also, the Yankees have fired two scouts under investigation in a probe of possible skimming from contracts with Latin American players, The Associated Press has learned. The Yankees terminated the contracts of Carlos Rios, their director of Latin American scouting, and Ramon Valdivia, their Dominican Republic scouting director, a baseball official said yesterday.

Cardinals: Right-hander Chris Carpenter was put on the 15-day disabled list by St. Louis because of a strained pitching shoulder. He had reconstructive elbow surgery in July 2007 and made three big league starts before the latest problem developed.

Angels: Los Angeles shortstop Maicer Izturis will miss the rest of the season after tearing a ligament in his left thumb. A switch-hitter, he hit .269 this year with three homers, 27 RBIs and 11 stolen bases in 79 games.

Rays: Tampa Bay closer Troy Percival was put on the disabled list with a cartilage injury to his right knee, his third stint on the DL this season.