The New York Mets placed starting pitcher Fernando Nieve on the 15-day disabled list Monday with a muscle tear in his right thigh, the team said. Nieve, who is 3-3 with a 2.95 ERA in eight games (seven starts) this season, suffered the injury trying to run out a ground ball in the second inning of Sunday's 7-1 loss at Atlanta.

The Cincinnati Reds signed Willy Taveras to a two-year contract Saturday, ending the team's search for a lead-off hitter and center fielder. The financial terms of the contract were withheld, MLB.com reported.