What’s Nieuw’ is old again: OF waived once more

Kirk Nieuwenhuis is a former Mets player for the second time in 2015.

The 28-year outf ielder was claimed off waivers by t he Brewers on Wednesday, as the Mets cleared roster space for Alejandro De Aza, whose signing wit h the team became official.

Nieuwenhuis began the season with the Mets, but was sold to the Angels in May. Three weeks later, t he Angels placed him on waivers and he was claimed by the Mets.

In 64 games for the Mets last season, Nieuwenhuis hit .208 with four hom- ers and 13 RBIs. He was the team’s fifth outfielder late in the season and during the playoffs, but the Mets are expected to now pursue a low-cost righty bat for that role. Michael Cuddyer’s recent retirement left the Mets in need of a righty bat that can give Curtis Granderson or Lucas Duda an occasional break against lefties.

As it stands, Granderson, Michael Conforto and the De Aza/Juan Lagares combination will take the vast majority of at-bats among the outfielders.

De Aza’s one-year deal with the Mets is worth $5.75 million. The contract also has incentives worth another $1.25 million based on plate appearances.

In another club transaction, c a tc her Johnny Monell was outrighted to Triple-A Las Vegas.

Pitcher Jose Martinez, a 21-year-old right-hander, was banned 60 games after testing positive for metabolites of stanozolol. He was 3-0 with a 4.10 ERA this year for the Dominican Summer League Mets and the Gulf Coast League Mets.

There have been 108 suspensions this ye a r under the minor league drug program.