Kelly

Stinnett

He’s hoping to be activated at the end of Arizona’s current homestand, which ends on Sunday.

He’s with the team in Florida following a short rehab stint, where he went 3-for-11 with a home run in three games with Single-A Lancaster.

Chris Snyder becomes an even weaker option in NL-only leagues with the Diamondbacks going to three catchers. They may carry both Stinnett and Koyie Hill for the rest of the season.

Koyie Hill is going to return to the minors tomorrow, leaving Stinnett and Chris Snyder to compete for playing time. Manager Bob Melvin seems to prefer the veteran, which should come as no surprise.

The bottom of the Yankee lineup did much of the damage in the 15-run outburst against. Miguel Cairo, Melky Cabrera and Stinnett combined for nine of the 15 hits and 10 of the 14 RBI.

Stinnett will head to Triple-A Norfolk for now, but he’s expected to act as the Mets’ third catcher next month.

Stinnett will be recovered from Tommy John surgery in time to compete for a job next spring. He’ll provide insurance in case Chris Snyder or Koyie Hill struggles.

Arizona’s previous inside-the-park home run also came from a catcher, as Damian Miller had one on Aug. 18, 2002. Stinnett hit a high fly ball to left field, which Ryan Klesko leaped for at the fence and missed. The ball bounced high into the air and fell back onto the field. Klesko, apparently thinking the ball had landed beyond the fence before bouncing back, walked over, picked it up and flipped it into the stands.

Stinnett, who is now a free agent, finished the season batting .248 with six home runs in 129 at-bats. He’ll probably enter next year as some club’s third catcher.

Stinnett gives the Mets an alternative to Ramon Castro should they choose to use it. We see no reason why they should.