The New York Mets are getting active early on in the offseason.
According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Mets have signed former Washington National Joey Meneses to a minor league deal. The reporter added that the agreement includes an invitation to big league spring training.
Additionally, the Mets signed right-handed pitcher Hobie Harris to a minor league deal, according to Anthony DiComo.
“Known for his splitter, Harris debuted with the Nationals in 2023 and posted a 10.3 K/9 at Triple-A this year in the Twins system,” said DiComo.
Meneses is a fun depth option with some power potential for the Mets. The former National had two pretty good seasons in 2022 and 2023, racking up 26 home runs and 50 doubles.
However, in 2024, Meneses had just a .593 OPS in 76 games for the Nationals at the major league level. Defensively, he plays almost exclusively first base but does have some experience in both outfield corner spots.
Harris was roughed up on the mound a bit for the Nationals in his last taste of the majors, posting a 5.12 ERA in 16 games in 2023. However, as DiComo mentioned, Harris’s splitter showed potential. The pitch has a whiff rate of 24.1% and generated seven strikeouts. The cutter might also have some promise, as hitters only had a .167 batting average and a .232 XBA.
Harris struggled in 2024 in Triple-A for the Twins with a 6.79 ERA over 54 1/3 innings, though he did have 62 strikeouts during that span.
These are the types of signings that good teams and organizations make. At worst, they are minor league flyers that will not work out long-term. But if they pan out, the Mets will have contributors on very cheap deals for the 2025 season.
Plenty of the offseason remains, but the Mets have started theirs with some low-risk and smart moves.
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