NEW YORK -- Outfielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis, who was traded to the Los Angeles Angels on May 27 for cash, was claimed by the New York Mets off waivers.
Nieuwenhuis opened the season hitting .079 (3-for-38) with the Mets before being designated for assignment on May 19. With the Angels, he hit .136 (3-for-22) in 10 games.
Nieuwenhuis will at least briefly join the major league club. Still, the Mets may soon try to pass him through waivers in order to send him to Triple-A Las Vegas. Nieuwenhuis is traveling from Los Angeles to New York and is not active on Saturday.
The Mets already have to create roster spots on the major league club on Sunday for Ruben Tejada and Dillon Gee as well as a week from now for Daniel Murphy.
Jerry Blevins was transferred to the 60-day DL to open a 40-man roster spot for Nieuwenhuis.
