Grading every major Mets move on the road to the 2024 season

Joey Wendle's hiring isn't particularly good

The first move regarding a position player this offseason was infielder Joey Wendle. The former Marlin is coming off a less-than-productive season where he hit for a line of .212/.248/.306/.554 with 2 homers and 20 RBIs in 297 at-bats.

After two productive seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2020 and 2021, Wendle's offensive production is on the decline. It was aggravated in 2023 with an increase in his K% of more than seven percentage points, and his BB% is in the bottom 10% of the league.

Likewise, his defensive capacity has been impaired, with 2023 being his worst year of all with an Outs Above Average among the lowest in the league, which generates concern because his hitting is not prominent. On the other hand, his speed on the bases is above average which relatively helps his case.

Among all the aspects that Wendle's profile brings to the Mets' lineup, his lack of ability to hit fastballs better is what stands out the most in his recent hitting profile. After hitting fastballs in 2022 for a batting average above .300, his percentage dropped sharply in 2023 to a poor .242 with a low slugging percentage of .345.

Observing the change in Wendle's offensive profile and his drop in defensive quality, his signing does not look promising on the Mets roster for 2024. This may be one of the team's worst moves this offseason.