The Vidal Brujan roster upgrade the NY Mets should seek in free agency

Vidal Brujan has become a more popular New York Mets player this week with Francisco Lindor’s Opening Day roster spot in jeopardy. Even if Lindor did make the team fully healthy, Brujan is a candidate to be a utility player on the roster for however long they can stand him. This is especially true if the team isn't going to give Ronny Mauricio any regular playing time to begin the year.

A lifetime .199 hitter with no truly amazing skill other than experience all over the field defensively, he’s a player who could just as easily end up back on waivers where the Mets claimed him. Nothing seems to indicate the Mets are actually looking into upgrades, potentially eyeing future waiver claims as Opening Day nears.

What about free agency? There’s a guy left unsigned who would be a match to give the Mets a little more than Brujan’s ceiling says.

Have the Mets considered Luis Rengifo?

Luis Rengifo isn’t coming off of a good season with the Los Angeles Angels. His .622 OPS was a big dip from the already relatively low .700s he posted in the three years prior. A switch hitter (unlike Luisangel Acuna) with a career .749 OPS against left-handed pitchers, there are still a couple of things to like about this soon-to-be 29-year-old infielder.

Rengifo played primarily second base and third base, almost equally last year with the Angels. Time in the outfield as well as shortstop is on his ledger, too. He hasn’t been great defensively nor has he been a complete butcher. His baserunning skills haven’t been superb, but he has rated well in past years.

Yeah, you’re not clearing out a major role for Rengifo. You also aren’t committing a lot of dollars to him. At this point in the offseason, the Mets are paying the 110% tax on anything added to the payroll. 

Rengifo has a $10.3 million market value according to Spotrac per year on a 2-year deal which seems outlandishly unrealistic with spring training already starting and him unsigned. Something more in the $5-6 million range is more expected. However, with no one nibbling yet, can we assume those types of offers are even coming in?

Perhaps a split contract is something he’d be amenable to. Rengifo is technically not out of minor league options, but can refuse an assignment. This could be one way to keep him on the depth chart as his salary would be a turn off for teams from picking him up on waivers. What’s more, if he is on waivers at all and did end up getting claimed, it’s probably for a good reason.

Options are drying up for Rengifo and a part-time role feels most likely to be his way onto a major league roster. He works with or without Lindor on the team. The Mets could conceivably have a bench of him, Tyrone Taylor, Luis Torrens, and Mark Vientos or Brett Baty (if Carson Benge is starting in right field). 

The Mets have added a lot to their roster this offseason, but haven’t brought in any guys for the bench who could be long-term pieces. Brujan seems incredibly temporary. Rengifo wouldn’t be and can give the Mets better at-bats while providing the similar speed and defensive skills. The only downfall is he’ll cost more money than the $850K Brujan is earning.