Needing to create a roster spot for Pedro Martinez, the Mets spared both Claudio Vargas and Mike Pelfrey late Monday night by sending reliever Carlos Muniz to Triple-A New Orleans. Vargas is now in the bullpen as a long man, while Pelfrey will stay in the rotation as the No. 5 starter despite a 2-6 record and losses in each of his past six decisions.