Latest NY Mets free agent signing is an unexpected audible with a Scott Boras client

David Stearns traded for Freddy Peralta on his anniversary. He wasn’t going to let the Super Bowl stop him from making smaller moves. According to Jon Heyman, the team has signed Kansas City Royals free agent MJ Melendez to a major league deal worth $1.5 million with another $500K in incentives.

Melendez is coming off of a year where he hit .083 in the majors. Just a lifetime .215 hitter with some good pop, he’s a -1.4 WAR player in large part to his defensive misgivings.

A catcher who moved to left field, he’s a curious Mets roster audible. Where did this one come from?

What is MJ Melendez’s role with the Mets?

As a poor defender worth -16 OAA in his career, Melendez is far from the run-prevention style of player we figured Stearns would load up on. He’s more of a DH.

The lefty-hitting Melendez spent most of his year in Triple-A while putting together an unexpected 20/20 season. His 21 home runs and 20 stolen bases are promising for the 27-year-old.

His major league splits don’t add much. A lifetime .210/.301/.395 hitter against righties, he actually has some better numbers against lefties. His .232/.282/.363 slash line against southpaws just means he’s a balanced below-average hitter rather than one who can hammer pitchers from one side of the plate.

Melendez is a Scott Boras client, something the Mets have avoided for the most part with the exception of Luke Weaver this offseason, intentionally or not. Melendez does have a remaining minor league option, giving the Mets a little leeway when it comes to keeping him around. He is a bit redundant, however, with Jared Young on the club as well. Both are lefties with power, Young tearing apart Triple-A pitching well last year.

The Mets will need to make a corresponding roster move to fit Melendez onto the team. They don’t yet have the luxury of a 60-day IL, but perhaps the “agreement” part of the deal is key. This is the week when the 60-day IL comes back with pitchers and catchers reporting. The Mets will immediately move Tylor Megill, Reed Garrett, and Dedniel Nunez there.