Mets’ Lima designated for assignment

? The New York Mets designated pitcher Jose Lima for assignment Friday, just hours after a test on injured right-hander Brian Bannister’s sore hamstring failed to reveal any new injury.

Bannister is returning to extended spring training to rehabilitate the right hamstring he hurt April 26 while running the bases in San Francisco.

The rookie left a rehab start for Triple-A Norfolk on Thursday after throwing only five pitches due to tightness in the hamstring. He had an MRI exam Friday.

“It’s getting better,” Mets general manager Omar Minaya said. “I can’t put a timeframe on it. He can pitch, but you’ve got to run.

“Better to be conservative. After what happened yesterday, we’re going to be even more conservative.”