Melendez? Oh brother.

[Centerfield]

Mets sign MJ Melendez. Major league deal. He plays 1B and C.

Can’t hit. Other than that I know nothing about him.

ON EDIT. Also plays OF. Hits left handed. Maybe he becomes our LH pinch hitter. Also maybe allows Alvarez to DH on his off days.

Edited February 8 by Centerfield

[Lefty Specialist]

Seems to play the outfield, which I guess is where they'll put him. Another head-scratcher from Stearns.

[Cowtipper]

In 2019, he hit .163 with 165 Ks in 363 ABs. At High-A.

[Frayed Knot]

Let's not play him in A-Ball then. And definitely give him no ABs in 2019.

[Cowtipper]

In 2021, he hit 41 home runs between Double-A and Triple-A.

[Gwreck]

Mets sign MJ Melendez. Major league deal. He plays 1B and C.

Can’t hit. Other than that I know nothing about him.

ON EDIT. Also plays OF. Hits left handed. Maybe he becomes our LH pinch hitter. Also maybe allows Alvarez to DH on his off days.

 

Strictly a depth piece and should make the major league roster only if Benge isn’t ready.

[Frayed Knot]

So if he's a good defensive catcher (I have no idea if he is) then he essentially fits the stereotype of a 3rd catcher: low BA/contact rate, good eye at the plate, and the ability to "run into one" at a decent clip. The fact that he's apparently agile enough to also play 1B or a corner OF position creates a niche for him if needed. As does only being 27 y/o.

[Gwreck]

13 hitters will make the team.

11 spots locked: Alvarez, Polanco, Semien, Bichette, Lindor, Robert, Soto, Torrens, Baty, Vientos, Taylor

2 spots open with this as the competition:

Carson Benge

Vidal Brujan

Ronny Mauricio

MJ Melendez

Nick Morabito

Jared Young

[Centerfield]

I think given the moves the Mets made, there is less pressure to start the year with Benge. I think it makes sense to give Baty and Vientos as much opportunity as possible. Assuming no injuries of course. Ultimately Benge could force the issue with a good spring, but I think he will start in Syracuse.

They worked hard to preserve Ronny’s option last year. I think he’ll start in Syracuse too.

The Mets have Alvarez, Semien, Vientos and Robert batting in the bottom of their lineup. A left handed pinch hitter will decide the outcome of a lot of games.

[smg58]

He's a depth piece. If I remember right, an arb-eligible player is only guaranteed the money if he begins the season on the team or accepts a demotion should he not make the team. That means the Mets could DFA him before the season starts, and another team would have to take his contract if they claim him or he'd walk away from money he wouldn't get back should he declare fee agency. The Dodgers do this sort of thing often.

This is shaping up to be the third straight year that the Mets open with two righthanded, glove first outfielders. (I'm counting Robert as glove first because his last two seasons give me no reason to do otherwise.) It's a waste of a roster spot, again.

I'm not sure Melendez could outperform Baty or Mauricio overall as a leftfielder. In fact, given that Melendez is a fairly known commodity, I think you have to be rooting against it.

[smg58]

I also wouldn't ignore minor-league signing Jose Rojas, who has far more upside than Melendez.

[Lefty Specialist]

Benge has to start the season at Syracuse. He was promoted fast last year and hadn't mastered that level. Granted, it was a short stint, so all the more reason to keep him there and let him fight his way to the majors.

Mauricio, as mentioned they went out of their way not to burn that last option in 2025 so they could use it in 2026. He really needs regular playing time, and '25 was a lost year for him.

The way things have shaken out you have to think Baty starts the season in left with Taylor as the defensive caddy and Vientos is the DH. Not sure how well this is going to work out, but that seems to be the plan. Melendez doesn't seem to be that good defensively and he can't hit, so ....

Morabito, Brujan and Young are pocket lint. This is a bad bench, and it only improves if Benge or Williams fight their way onto the roster.

[MFS62]

Williams was traded.

Benge or Morabito.

Later

[Edgy MD]

I don't think those players are "pocket lint." I don't know why this should be considered a "bad bench." And of course, new players will appear as the season progresses. Or regresses.

Of course, also, bench strength is a far-less meaningful element of a team after the institution of the universal DH.

But yes, Jett Williams is a Brewer prospect now.

[Cowtipper]

"2 spots open with this as the competition:

Carson Benge

Vidal Brujan

Ronny Mauricio

MJ Melendez

Nick Morabito

Jared Young"

See, we pretty much know we're not going to get much from Brujan, Melendez or Young. Mauricio is still a toss up, but he's leaning toward an underwhelming career, too.

We have no idea how Benge or Morabito might do, but they'd likely not do any worse than the above, and they might surprise us by doing better than we could imagine. They're top prospects, after all.

So I'd like to find a way to get them on the team to start the year somehow.

But since they probably need more infield depth, it might make more sense to choose one and let the other still-top-prospect (ish) Mauricio try to prove himself again, instead of using as Quadruple-A guy like Brujan.

[Gwreck]

This is a bad bench, and it only improves if Benge or Williams fight their way onto the roster.

 

I’ve got bad news for you about Williams.

I agree with the broader point though: the bench options are thoroughly unimpressive if Baty and Vientos and Baty are everyday players.

[Edgy MD]

Worth noting that Melendez comes with a minor-league option year remaining. He is probably behind Jared Young, at least at the start of camp.