WASHINGTON — Chris Young escaped receiving a pink slip earlier this week, but the Mets still may unload the underperforming outfielder.
Bobby Abreu was designated for assignment Monday, at which time there were indications the Mets would revisit Young’s situation in the ensuing 7-10 days, according to an industry source.
Releasing Young would put the Mets in position to promote Matt den Dekker from Triple-A Las Vegas to see if he can handle playing on a regular basis in the majors before September call-ups. Den Dekker entered Wednesday leading the Pacific Coast League with a .331 batting average.
Kirk Nieuwenhuis, who went 0-for-3 in Wednesday’s 7-1 loss to the Nationals, was promoted to replace Abreu because the Mets wanted a player comfortable coming off the bench. Den Dekker is viewed as more of an everyday option.
Young, who signed a one-year deal worth $7.25 million with the Mets last offseason, is batting .206 with eight homers and 28 RBIs after flying out in the ninth as a pinch hitter for Nieuwenhuis.
The Mets made their annual visit to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in nearby Bethesda, Md. Team owner Fred Wilpon joined the players and coaching staff for the visit.
“It’s a trip that you enjoy making, but it’s weird saying you enjoy something like that,” David Wright said. “I enjoy speaking with the wounded warriors. I enjoy hearing the stories. I enjoy it selfishly because it definitely puts things in perspective and kind of opens your eyes up to the difference between what they do and what we do.”
Daisuke Matsuzaka could begin pitching in a minor league rehab game early next week, according to manager Terry Collins. The right-hander threw on flat ground Wednesday and needs to be lengthened out before rejoining the Mets’ bullpen.
Reliever Jeurys Familia was unavailable Wednesday after appearing in consecutive games. Collins said he did not regret using the right-hander with the Mets leading 6-1 in the eighth inning on Tuesday. The manager wanted Familia in the game to help him bury the memory of a day earlier, when he blew a save against the Giants.
“It’s still the eighth inning and we want to get to the ninth with the same score,” Collins said. “It was a no-brainer to get him back out there and right back in a situation, get him out there against some of their better hitters.”