JUPITER, Fla. - With the Nationals' outfield situation so uncertain and opening day just a week away, the club made a move to strengthen that area this afternoon, acquiring Matt den Dekker from the Mets for left-hander Jerry Blevins.
den Dekker, 27, played all 80 of his major league games over the last two seasons with the Mets. He's a career .238/.325/.310 hitter with 12 doubles, one home run, 11 steals and 13 RBIs. In 175 plate appearances last season, den Dekker hit .250 with a .345 on-base percentage. At Triple-A Las Vegas in 2014, den Dekker hit .334 with a .407 on-base percentage and a .540 slugging percentage.
den Dekker, a 2010 fifth-round selection, has played all three outfield positions in the majors, with the most (34) coming in center field. He's batting .256/.373/.512 with four doubles, two triples and seven RBIs this spring.
"(den Dekker) fits in in a lot of ways," Nationals manager Matt Williams said. "He's got the ability to play all three (outfield positions). Certainly can play the center field position. Adds speed. Adds a little bit of power. So he gives us a lot of options in that regard. Certainly the need by the Mets for a left-handed pitcher was there and den Dekker gives us a lot of tools that he brings to the table."
The Nats acquired Blevins, 31, from the Athletics in December 2013 in exchange for outfielder Billy Burns. During his one season in Washington, Blevins was 2-3 with a 4.87 ERA in 64 appearances.
Update: The Nats added a second experienced outfielder this afternoon, agreeing with Reed Johnson on a minor league contract that includes an invitation to spring training. Johnson, 38, was released by the Marlins earlier today.
Johnson is a 13-year veteran who has played 1,303 career games with the Blue Jays, Cubs, Dodgers, Braves and Marlins, so he has plenty of experience in the National League East. Johnson is a career .280/.336/.406 hitter. Last season with Miami, he hit .235/.266/.348 with two homers, 15 doubles and 25 RBIs in 113 games.
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