NEW YORK -- A procession of Mets filed out of the back room of the clubhouse and into the primary locker area about 6 p.m. ET Tuesday, each pausing at a corner to greet a welcome guest. Jose Valentin was among them, and that pleased them all, to a man.

The veteran infielder, such an integral component of the team's success in 2006, had been examined earlier in the day and cleared to resume light baseball activity Friday following his return to Port St. Lucie, Fla., on Thursday. He had stopped all activity for about a month because pain and inflammation just below the back of his neck. His problem was termed a "disc issue." Surgery wasn't an alternative he wanted to pursue.

Valentin, 38, missed large portions of last season because of a torn right knee ligament and, later, a broken bone in his right leg. He underwent surgery on the knee. He had made more progress in Spring Training than had been anticipated when the disc issue developed.

He said he hopes to be game ready by the end of May, but he has no guarantee he will be brought to the big leagues when he is ready. He signed a Minor League contract.