NEW YORK — The New York Mets have cut slumping 40-year-old Bobby Abreu and are calling up outfielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis from the minors.
The Mets designated Abreu for assignment after Monday’s 4-3 loss to San Francisco. His final appearance came in the sixth inning when he was sent up as a pinch-hitter, then pulled after the Giants made a pitching change.
Abreu had been out of the majors since 2012 when the Mets promoted him from Triple-A on April 21. He provided a left-handed bat and good patience at the plate as a pinch-hitter, occasional outfielder and designated hitter for games at American League stadiums.
Abreu started well, but quickly dropped off. He was hitless in his last 22 at-bats as a pinch-hitter. He hit .238 with one home run and 14 RBIs in 142 plate appearances, and finished up 0 for 13.
Overall, Abreu has hit .291 with 288 homers in 18 seasons with Houston, Philadelphia, the Yankees, the Angels, the Dodgers and the Mets.
"It was a big step to be out for one year and come back this year," Abreu said. "The feeling right now, it’s not going to put me down. I’m going to stay with my head up."
Abreu said he will play winter ball back home in Venezuela and perhaps look to become a hitting coach in the future.
"I’d like to see if I can pass all the stuff I know to these guys," he said.
