Every NY Mets free agent David Stearns signed who didn’t make it through his contract

3) Joey Wendle

Joey Wendle proved to be a solid utility man for the Tampa Bay Rays. From his 2018 rookie season through 2021, Wendle batted .274/.330/.414 with a .319 wOBA and 105 wRC+. Wendle split his playing time almost evenly between second base and third base, but also started a handful of games at shortstop, and even saw a few games in the outfield corners during his rookie campaign. But overall, he played solid defense wherever he was asked to play.

After 2021, the Rays traded Wendle to their cross-state rival (and Mets' division rival), the Miami Marlins. But Wendle was not able to continue his production at the plate. He slashed a meager .238/.274/.335 with a .267 wOBA, and 65 wRC+ over the course of 689 plate appearances. He may have still graded out as a solid glove in the infield, but that was about the only good thing he did during his tenure in Miami.

After the 2023 season, the Marlins let Wendle walk in free agency. The Mets then swooped in and picked him up on a one-year, $2 million guaranteed contract with up to $500K in bonuses at the end of November. Wendle did not last long with the Mets. He only appeared in 18 games and stepped to the plate 37 times, collecting just eight hits, only one of which went for extra bases (a double). He also drew just one walk and struck out nine times.

The Mets opted to designate Wendle for assignment in the middle of May and release him later that month. The Braves then picked him up on a minor league contract, but spent less than a week in the organization before being released. Wendle did not sign with any professional team in 2025, so as of right now, his tenure with the Mets is his most recent action in pro ball.