PHOENIX -- About two hours prior to Monday's series opener at Chase Field, Mets manager Terry Collins met with assistant general manager John Ricco to draw up the next steps for injured shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera. With input from GM Sandy Alderson, the group decided they would play Monday's game shorthanded,

PHOENIX -- About two hours prior to Monday's series opener at Chase Field, Mets manager Terry Collins met with assistant general manager John Ricco to draw up the next steps for injured shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera . With input from GM Sandy Alderson, the group decided they would play Monday's game shorthanded, while Cabrera continued recovering from a sprained joint at the base of his left thumb.

The Mets decided on Tuesday to place Cabrera on the 10-day disabled list with the injury he first sustained on May 6, then aggravated on Saturday in Milwaukee.

"We've been reluctant to put him on so far because he's such a big part of the team," Ricco on Sunday said of Cabrera, who is batting .257 with three home runs and a .719 OPS in 33 games. "To his credit, he wants to keep fighting."

Cabrera's spot on the 25-man roster was immediately taken by right-hander Neil Ramirez , who was signed to a Major League contract a week after being designated for assignment by Toronto. To make room on the 40-man roster, the Mets transferred closer Jeurys Familia to the 60-day DL.