Mets outfielder Andres Torres is expected to be activated from the disabled list Monday, when the Mets open a series in Houston (ESPN New York). Torres has been on the shelf since injuring his left calf on opening day.
In his absence, 24-year-old rookie Kirk Nieuwenhuis has thrived, hitting .333/.403/.517 with two homers, five RBI and played pretty good defense (other than a gaffe in the ninth inning last Saturday, but we can forgive that).
If Jason Bay wasn't on the DL with a broken rib, this would pose an interesting dilemma for the Mets. While I'd play Nieuwenhuis over both Bay and Torres at this point, we all know how much major-league teams love their veterans. And Nieuwenhuis has options left.
Instead, it's likely either Torres or Nieuwenhuis will simply shift to left field with Scott Hairston being the fourth outfielder.
Torres, 34, hit .221/.312/.330 with 24 doubles and 19 stolen bases for the Giants last season.
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