3 free agents the NY Mets should sign to minor league contracts

2) Connor Joe

Connor Joe has spent the last two seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He did not perform very well during his second year, batting just .228/.320/.368 with a .305 wOBA and 92 wRC+ through 416 plate appearances. He walked at a 10.6% rate with a 21.9% K%, but that’s about the only positives to come from his season with the bat. Joe had just a .140 isolated slugging percentage, with an exit velocity of 85.3 MPH. Joe was also well below average in barrel rate at 4.7% and below the 10th percentile in all expected stats.

2024 was a rough season for Joe, but he was a solid bat in 2023. In 472 plate appearances, Joe put up a .247/.339/.421 triple-slash. He hit for above-average pop with 11 homers and a .174 isolated slugging percentage. Joe walked at an identical 10.6% rate, though struck out slightly more frequently with a 23.3% K%. Another positive is that he showed off much more raw power with an 88.9 MPH exit velocity and 8.2% barrel percentage. He ended the ‘23 campaign with a .332 wOBA and 106 wRC+.

Defensively, Joe has graded out as an average glove in the outfield and first base over the last two years for the Pirates. He has -1 defensive run saved and -1 out above average in the outfield. He also ran average routes while getting slightly above-average jumps on flyballs. His defense at first base has seen him put up 0 DRS and +2 OAA in 798 innings. 

The Mets could use some depth at first base now that Pete Alonso is out of the picture. Joe isn’t an Alonso replacement (obviously), but the Mets haven’t had any depth problems at the position since 2018. Alonso has appeared in about 97% of the Mets’ games since his 2019 debut, so having some extra depth without such a durable and reliable option should be on the Mets’ to-do list.