"There are many potential potholes in the road to this actually happening, but if Johan Santana returns this season, and all current Mets starters are healthy, Terry Collins and pitching coach Dan Warthen are considering finishing the season with a six-man rotation.

"That's a possibility," Collins said.

Santana, recovering from surgery to repair a torn capsule in his left shoulder, began a minor-league rehabilitation stint Thursday with a successful outing for Single-A St. Lucie. Because of the 30-day limit on rehab assignments, he will rejoin the Mets in late August, barring setbacks.

If that happens, it has the potential to create an awkward situation for the rotation, as Mike Pelfrey, Jon Niese, R.A. Dickey, Dillon Gee and Chris Capuano all remain deserving of a starting spot."