In a move that seemed to have GM Omar Minaya’s fingerprints all over it, the Mets will activate second baseman Luis Castillo off the DL on Saturday and plan to put him back in the starting lineup right away. Jerry Manuel had said repeatedly during Castillo’s seven-week stint on the DL with a strained hip flexor that the veteran infielder would have a tough time regaining his starting job with Damion Easley and Argenis Reyes playing so well.

So for Manuel to suddenly do such a dramatic about-face — especially with the Mets in first place and playing well without Castillo — looks more than a little suspicious. Makes you wonder if the Mets are telling Manuel to play Castillo in large part because Castillo is in the first year of a four-year, $25 million contract.

Manuel added that he is undecided on who will be sent down to make room for Castillo.