Mets’ desperate tryout Moves front & center

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Matt den Dekker expected to return to minor league camp this spring; he has never played abovedouble-a, after all, and at 24 years old is still developing. What he did not expectwas what he received Thursday afternoon: an invitation back to the bigleague side.

This is what a team does when its center fielder, Andres Torres, is out with a calf injury; its backup, Scott Hairston, has not played all spring because of a strained oblique; and its Triple-a depth, Kirk Nieuwenhuis, is also sitting with an oblique injury.

When all those issues hit at once, a team retrieves den Dekker from the back fields of Port St. Lucie, tells Mike Baxter to work in center field and sends Jordany Valdespin there from second base. In Friday’s game, Baxter, Valdespin and Adam Loewen all appeared in center; den Dekker will start on Saturday.

Although neither Torres nor Hairston expects tomiss significantly more time than they already have, their absences have created the chance for others to audition. dendekker, who hit a combined .265 last year, with 17 home runs between SingleA and Double-a, impressed the front office enough to earn an invitation to big league camp.

Now he is back, and Terry Collins said that den Dekker “is a legitimate consideration” to make the team.

“I try not to think about it too much, but it is exciting,” said den Dekker.

The opportunity is also exciting for Baxter, who has outperformed Loewen this spring in the competition to replace Willie harris as the mets’ left handed bench bat. Because Loewen can play center, he appeared to have an advantage, but Collins made clear to Baxter that he would see time at the position.

“You’re going to have to play some center field while you’re

here,” Collins recalled telling Baxter, who has played farmore at the corner outfield positions during his professional career.

“He’s been OK,” Collins said of Baxter’s center field play. “I’ve been trying to get himout there so I can have a better judgment of how he would do, and he has done fine.”

“I feel good in the outfield,” Baxter said. “I feel good in center field. I take reps there, and I have been working hard there. I’m glad that I have an opportunity to play there. In the past I really haven’t, because I have been behind other players.”

Jason Bay and Valdespin are also options in center, but seem less likely.

SANTANA ON TRACK

Johan Santana threw his customary between-starts bullpen session Friday, and plans to make his scheduled start on Monday.

“He’s right on track,” Collins said.

INJURY UPDATES

Tim Byrdak (knee surgery) had his stitches removed on Thursday, and expected friday to play catch for the first time since the March 13 procedure, pitching coach dan warthen said.

Pedro Beato (shoulder) returned to the mound Thursday, throwing his first bullpen session since the injury.

Warthen said that D.J. Carrasco (ankle) could return soon, but the reliever told the team’s website in Port St. Lucie that “it’s not looking that way” — referring to readiness for Opening Day.

THREE SENT DOWN

The Mets on Friday reassigned infielders Josh Satin and Omar Quintanilla, along with pitcher Fernando Cabrera, to minor league camp.

METS LOSE

The Mets lost to Atlanta, 9-4, on Friday, and are 5-13 in Grapefruit League play. Jon Niese allowed four runs on four hits in four innings.