Mets reclaim outfielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis off waivers

Outfielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis, designated for assignment by the Mets before being traded to the Angels for cash just two and a half weeks ago, will be returning to the organization.

The team claimed the 27-year-old off the waiver wire this afternoon, three days after the Angels designated him for assignment to make room for minor league prospect Kyle Kubitza. Nieuwenhuis failed to make much of an impact in Los Angeles, going just 3-for-22 and striking out nine times, leaving him the odd man out on the roster.

Nieuwenhuis struggled to start the 2015 season in New York, striking out 17 times in 38 plate appearances and recording just three hits. He was then DFA-ed by the Mets as the team brought up Darrell Ceciliani on May 19. After clearing waivers, the team decided to trade him to Los Angeles just over a week later before reclaiming him today.

The Mets are apparently still hoping that Nieuwenhuis can regain last year's form in his latest opportunity with the club, as he hit a respectable .259/.346/.482 in 2014 with just 39 strikeouts in 112 at-bats. Given his rough start to this season and an equally rough stint out West, the time for him to turn things around could be extremely short when he is activated to the roster (which may be very, very soon).

In a corresponding move, the team moved reliever Jerry Blevins on the 60-day disabled list.