Mets add yet another intriguing depth piece for their infield

The New York Mets continued their batch of minor additions to the team on Thursday as they signed free agent first baseman and designated hitter Joey Meneses to a minor league contract with an invite to spring training.

Meneses was one of the feel-good stories across baseball in 2022 and 2023. The career minor leaguer finally got a chance in the majors with the Washington Nationals at age 30, and he had a strong first two seasons in the majors. He hit 13 home runs in two months of action in 2022, then he drove in 89 runs in the 2023 campaign, mostly as the team’s designated hitter.

Even though he had a down season in 2024 (.593 OPS in 76 games), Meneses could be an interesting piece for the Mets in 2025.

Joey Meneses is yet another low-risk, high reward signing by the Mets.

While everyone awaits the big free agents to sign, the Mets have added several players with low profiles and interesting talents to replenish the depth that they lost to expiring contracts, including Meneses. They've already added Luis De Los Santos off waivers, and Donovan Walton in free agency as potential depth pieces for their infield.

When Meneses first burst into the majors in 2022, the quality of his contact was what led to his early successes. His hard-hit rate that season was 47.1 percent and his average exit velocity was 91.4 mph. By 2024, his contact quality had diminished from two years ago, with his hard-hit rate sinking to 39.3 percent and his average exit velocity decreasing to 88.9 mph. If those numbers can go back up, he will see the success he saw in 2022.

However, he has been excellent in winter ball in the Mexican Pacific League this winter, as he has led his team, the Tomateros de Culiacán, to the best record in the league. He currently leads the league with 7 home runs and 32 RBI’s, while batting .347 in the process. That success was what led the Mets to give him a shot in Port St. Lucie next spring.

Do not be surprised if Joey Meneses gets a chance to play with the Mets this season.

The Mets depth chart at first base is subject to change, as we will see where Pete Alonso ends up. But right now, Mark Vientos is the projected Opening Day first baseman, and is the only one who can play the position that is currently on the 40-man roster. The team also has Luke Ritter, who played the entire 2024 season in Triple-A, then prospect Ryan Clifford, who might not be ready for the majors just yet.

Whether the Mets add a first baseman or not, Joey Meneses is a contender to make the team out of spring training as a bench piece if his results from winter ball in Mexico carry over into the spring in Florida.

Last season's run to the NLCS was proof the Mets needed infield depth from the minors to get them going, and they had Jose Iglesias, who had some upside, turn on the season of his life with the Mets in 2024. Joey Meneses has the highest upside of any of the Mets infield additions so far, thanks to his contact hitting.