Mets outright Nieuwenhuis to Triple-A

NEW YORK -- The Mets announced Monday that they have outrighted outfielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis to Triple-A Las Vegas, 19 days after trading him to the Angels.

The team designated Nieuwenhuis for assignment last month and ultimately dealt him to the Angels, who DFA'd him two weeks later. The Mets subsequently claimed him back, outrighting Nieuwenhuis to remove him from their 40-man roster. Nieuwenhuis will report to Las Vegas, where he spent significant portions of the last two seasons.

Over 236 career games with the Mets from 2012-15, Nieuwenhuis is a .226 hitter with 13 home runs, 12 stolen bases and a .666 OPS.

"We're happy to have him back," general manager Sandy Alderson said, "and just think he needs at-bats to get back to where he can be productive for us."

• Reliever Vic Black, whom the Mets recently optioned to Las Vegas, has been sidelined with what Alderson termed a "groin issue." Black had appeared in three games since arriving in Vegas, giving up four runs in the first of them but responding with two scoreless outings. He has yet to appear in the big leagues this season.

• Testing on reliever Erik Goeddel's right elbow remained inconclusive this week due to inflammation in the joint. The Mets sent Goeddel to Florida, where he will rehab as he awaits another MRI and an updated diagnosis. Goeddel, who posted a 1.96 ERA in 22 appearances with the Mets, was shut down last week due to discomfort in his elbow, and what he termed a "dirty" MRI. He had Tommy John surgery in 2007 and a follow-up operation on the same elbow in 2009.