Latest NY Mets depth signing swipes Yankees minor leaguer after a monster season

In 2025, Jose Rojas hit one home run for every year of his life. The 32-year-old journeyman found his way to the New York Yankees in 2024 after spending some time playing overseas. An ex-Doosan Bears player where the New York Mets swiped Jared Young and Brandon Waddell from last offseason, Rojas will be joining them in St. Lucie this spring.

The Mets agreed to a minor league deal with Rojas with an invite to camp. The fact that it’s a minor league deal is beneficial as it’ll prevent them from clogging up a 40-man roster spot. Rojas has a remaining minor league option as well, making him an easy candidate to become this year’s version of Young.

This is a Mets depth move that makes a lot of sense

An over-30-year-old player smashing Triple-A pitching doesn’t tend to mean much nor were the Mets bold enough to invest in Rojas beyond an opportunity. Just 241 big league plate appearances and none since 2022, this is a guy who has profiled as a stereotypical Four-A player with good numbers one level below the majors and poor ones in a limited sample in MLB.

With just a .188 batting average and 6 home runs with the Los Angeles Angels in parts of two seasons, Rojas is a versatile albeit not strong defender who has played everywhere except shortstop and center field regularly. Mostly a DH style of player like Young was for the Mets last year at times, he’s someone the Mets would likely want to use off the bench to thump a homer versus a righty.

His splits were predictable, hitting a monstrous .299/.390/.648 against righties. Even cutting those numbers down by a significant percentage would make him a useful piece.

Mets fans have gotten accustomed to seeing depth moves that have involved pitchers with massive ERAs or injury track records that have them destined for the morgue. This one, while possibly forgettable rather quickly, feels so safe with some promising upside.

Young ended up in 23 games for the Mets last season and managed to swat 4 home runs and drive in 6. Had he been able to perform better, with Jesse Winker sidelined, there was an opportunity to stick around. Still with the team for now, one has to wonder if the Mets are ready to move on or if Rojas will join his fellow Doosan Bears alumni in Syracuse.