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NY Mets depth duo elect free agency after dominating in the minors, one is welcome back

They're looking for gigs elsewhere. One feels like a match to fill out the depth chart better than the other.
ByTim Boyle
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May 29, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets designated hitter MJ Melendez (1) hits a sacrifice fly ball against the Miami Marlins during the seventh inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images
May 29, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets designated hitter MJ Melendez (1) hits a sacrifice fly ball against the Miami Marlins during the seventh inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Over the weekend, a pair of New York Mets depth pieces choose free agency rather than stick around in the minors. MJ Melendez and Vidal Brujan are back on the open market after putting together a predictable season.

Melendez had a brief period with the Mets in the early part of the season seeing regular action as the club’s DH. Through his first 45 plate appearances he was hitting .333/.409/.615 in a year that was already heading in the wrong direction for the ball club. He, of course, cratered and wound up hitting .192 in the majors. The story was lighter for Brujan who had only 13 plate appearances and a single among them. 

While unproductive in the majors, each dominated in Triple-A. Melendez hit 22 home runs in only 305 trips to the plate while slashing .264/.361/.604. Brujan was no pushover at the plate. He hit .278/.385/.421 with 16 stolen bases.

We all understood the assignment when the Mets added them. Brujan was a non-optional infield depth. Melendez was a guy who they could stash in the minors as needed thanks to a final minor league option. In 2027, only one of them is worth bringing back.

MJ Melendez is welcome back to the Mets on a minor league deal if he wishes for a reunion

Why opt out if he’s only going to come back? That’s like asking why someone would date someone else after getting broken up with. Melendez is not getting a major league deal. Because of the structure of the Mets organization, it wouldn’t be so bad to have a left-handed hitting slugger who can play outfield.

Other than Nick Morabito, a completely different player from Melendez, there isn’t a young prospect ready to go as depth. The Mets will be sure to add someone(s) in the offseason, maybe even not so dissimilar from Melendez. Brujan’s role, as well, is likely to get taken over by another cast-off who’ll get picked up off of waivers or in the minor league free agent pile.

Left-handed sticks who don’t do much more than occasionally run into some power have had a regular presence on the Mets roster. From Daniel Vogelbach to Jesse Winker to Jared Young before his breakout, they’ve found the value in these minimally effective players. The good thing about Melendez is he seems to have at least shown some growth as a defender in the outfield. He’s no Carson Benge nor is he a Juan Soto.

Melendez played his final game for the big league Mets on June 25, a day before the team fired Carlos Mendoza. He was demoted and later DFA’d but remained with the organization. There’s an easy explanation there. Melendez was signed to a one-year $1.5 million deal. By accepting the assignment, his contract stuck. He would have been eligible for arbitration in 2027 had the Mets kept him on the 40-man roster. Staying with them at the moment guaranteed him nothing more than a minor league paycheck sponsored by Cup Noodles. Apparently it hasn’t been Cup-O-Noodles since the early 1990s. Who knew?

As for Brujan, the Mets had very little need for him and at his best, he can really only defend and run a little. Because of the added infield depth the club has in the form of prospects, he feels less needed at the moment.

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