Adam Rubin, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Matt den Dekker, Nationals execs react to trade

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- When Matt den Dekker was summoned to an office for a meeting with general manager Sandy Alderson and manager Terry Collins on Monday afternoon, he presumed he was getting demoted to Triple-A Las Vegas. After all, it seemed straightforward that den Dekker would begin the season in the minors since competitor Kirk Nieuwenhuis was out of options.

Instead, the 27-year-old den Dekker received word he had been traded to the Washington Nationals for left-handed reliever Jerry Blevins.

"I honestly wasn't expecting that at all," den Dekker said. "I've been with the Mets for five years now and they've been great and everything was first class with the organization. So I can't thank them enough. But I'm excited for this new opportunity. I hopefully get to see the Mets a lot more in the future.

"It hasn't set in yet," he added. "And it will probably will take a while to set in."

With Nationals outfielders Denard Span, Nate McLouth and Jayson Werth all injured, den Dekker figures to crack the Opening Day roster of the NL East favorites. Still, Werth (shoulder) may be activated within a week of the season opener. Den Dekker has two options remaining and could end up in Triple-A at that point.

The Mets actually may get to see den Dekker right away. The teams play a Grapefruit League game on Tuesday in Viera.

"We're going to miss Matt den Dekker," Collins said. "Whenever he came up, he presented a nice piece to our team. I've enjoyed watching him play since the day he signed."

Den Dekker, known for his highlight-reel defensive plays, batted .238 with one homer and 13 RBIs in 210 at-bats over two seasons at the major league level. His Achilles' heel was his strikeout total (57 Ks), although den Dekker had worked of late to shorten his swing and put the ball in play more.

At one point, den Dekker was on the trajectory Juan Lagares since has assumed. A broken wrist for den Dekker in spring training in 2013 helped clear the path for Lagares' ascent.

"We always knew he was a great defender. And we always knew he had big-time power," Collins said. "The strikeouts hurt him more than anything, especially at this level, where these guys find holes, and they don't let up until you make adjustments. I thought Matt worked very hard this past year to change, which we saw last summer when he came back from Vegas. He shortened his swing. Now the power wasn't necessarily the same, but he shortened his swing and put the ball in play even more. I saluted that."

Nats manager Matt Williams said he likes that den Dekker can play all three outfield positions.

"He adds speed, adds a little bit of power," Williams said. "So he gives us a lot of options in that regard. Certainly the need of the Mets for a left-handed pitcher was there, and den Dekker gives us a lot of tools that he brings to the table."

Williams and GM Mike Rizzo suggested the Mets got a fine piece back in Blevins, who will be the lefty specialist in New York.

"In the second half of last year, he was pretty darn good," Williams said, "He was called upon to do a lot of things, especially early in the season. He threw multiple innings for us last year. As we got deeper into the season and starters started to go deeper into games, he was more of a lefty-lefty specialist in that regard, and he did really, really well. I view him as a professional. The Mets will like him. He works. He's a great teammate. So, for me, it was a pleasure to have him on the club."

Said Rizzo: "We like the relief depth that we have. Jerry had one year left on his deal and we traded him from a place of depth for a place of need -- not only this year but for the future. [Den Dekker]'s a young guy with two options left. A guy that the skill set fits for us."

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