Oakland Athletics sign former Mets outfielder Alejandro De Aza

By JT. Teran
May 5, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; New York Mets left fielder Alejandro De Aza (16) reacts after striking out during the sixth inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
May 5, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; New York Mets left fielder Alejandro De Aza (16) reacts after striking out during the sixth inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /
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With a crowded outfield, and his terrible performance last season, the Mets were never even considering bringing Alejandro De Aza back to New York.

In case you need some good news to finish up your work week, outfielder Alejandro De Aza will not be back in Queens in 2017. While none of us were really expecting De Aza to be signed again by the Mets, this was made a little more official by the report that he’s signed elsewhere. According ESPN’s Adam Rubin, the Oakland Athletics have given De Aza a minor league deal for the 2017 season.

De Aza somehow made it through the entire 2016 campaign on the Mets roster. Injuries to different players made that possible, unfortunately. He will be entering his ninth Major League season and will look to build on the very limited and minuscule success he had with New York towards the end of last year.

Overall though, his 2016 was just brutal. We got a chance to recap his season in our Mets in Season Review, and it really is shocking how the club never released him. He hit .205/.297/.321 in 267 plate appearances over 130 games.

Back towards the end of June, you could already tell De Aza was overmatched and simply did not belong anywhere near a baseball field.

With the uncertainty of Yoenis Cespedes‘ return to Queens, I understand taking a one-year deal on De Aza in 2016, but ultimately, he cost others playing time as Terry Collins continuously gave him starts as the year progressed.

Next: Jacob deGrom talks rotation, friendship, and 2017 season

Nevertheless, hopefully De Aza can get some productive work in for Oakland’s minor league team this upcoming season. As long as he’s nowhere near Citi Field wearing orange and blue, we’re good.

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