CINCINNATI -- With Mike Cameron still unable to play and the Mets not inclined to have Jose Santiago join their rotation, it became likely Thursday that Cameron would be assigned to the disabled list and Aaron Heilman would be recalled as the immediate, and possibly only, replacement for the disabled Kris Benson.

The situation had become involved and curious in recent days, but the team had apparently preferred that Heilman or Jae Seo make the start rather than Santiago, who has pitched almost exclusively in relief and who isn't on the Mets' 40-man roster.

Neither was eligible to be recalled because neither had spent the required 10 in-season days in the Minor Leagues following his demotion during the final days of Spring Training. But after Cameron's sore wrist didn't respond as the club had hoped to a weekend cortisone injection, and he remained unable to swing without pain, the club began to consider assigning the would-be right fielder to the disabled list, thereby creating a way to bring Heilman, as opposed to Seo, to the big leagues.

Heilman could make as many as four starts for Benson, who has been shut down to allow his strained right pectoral to heal.

Cameron's 15-day assignment could be backdated to the day after his last Spring Training appearance (March 30), which would make him eligible to play on April 16. Willie Randolph indicated Thursday he would be reluctant to use Cameron as a pinch-runner or defensive replacement on Friday because Cameron's 15 days then would begin Saturday.

Cameron told Randolph two things on Thursday: one, his wrist still was less than 100 percent ready, and two, he thought "It's not good for [the Mets] to be short-handed." It was Cameron's way of suggesting that an assignment to the DL might benefit the team -- and him.

Randolph indicated Thursday that his preference was to have Cameron's defense and power in the lineup, regardless of how it affected the Saturday starting assignment.

The manager had acknowledged Thursday morning that a DL assignment for Cameron had become a consideration. "We can't keep pushing him back," the manager said. "We have to find out."

And now, the Mets then can use a pitcher other than Santiago on Saturday.

The Mets had believed Santiago needed to be "stretched out" before he could start, so they had him throw 60 pitches in simulated game conditions Tuesday in Norfolk -- far more than most relievers ordinarily throw in an average appearance.

Heilman was listed as the probable Saturday starting pitcher for the Triple-A Norfolk Tides, so he is on schedule to fill the vacant No. 5 starter role with the big-league team. Seo was scheduled to start for the Tides in Scranton on Thursday, but the game was postponed.

Randolph added another element to the equation on Thursday when he said Santiago "might be part of our bullpen soon."

The Mets still need to add Santiago to the 25-man Major League roster and the 40-man roster.

Etched in what? Randolph frequently uses the phrase, "Nothing etched in stone."

And that apparently is so. Before the game Wednesday, the manager said, "It's too early to be thinking about resting," while discussing possible time off for Mike Piazza.

The veteran catcher said after the game that he was willing to miss a day game after a night game, but that he wasn't asking for a day off.

Piazza sat Thursday while backup Ramon Castro started and caught Kaz Ishii.