The Mets made their first roster additions of the offseason on Wednesday, signing eleven players to minor league contracts. These moves may not draw much attention outside of Queens, but several could have a positive impact on the club.
The following signings have the greatest chance of helping the Mets going forward.
Mallex Smith
It was only two years ago that Smith emerged as one of baseball’s foremost speed demons. In 2018 with the Rays, the now 27-year-old outfielder hit .296 and tied for the American League lead with 10 triples. He paired those numbers with a .367 on-base percentage, which led all qualified batters on the Rays that season. Though his OBP dipped to .300 the following year, Smith still managed to top the majors with 46 steals.
The player Smith most closely resembles in terms of offensive skill set is Dee Strange-Gordon, even if his most recent performance has been more comparable to Billy Hamilton. Smith has hit just 13 home runs over close to 1,500 big league at-bats, so he doesn’t offer much in terms of power. Still, there’s no denying that his eye-popping speed makes him, at the very least, solid outfield depth. In his last full season, 2019, he ranked in the majors’ 96th percentile in sprint speed. He also ranked in the 96th percentile in outs above average, and 90th percentile in outfield jump. Now that Jake Marisnick is back on the free agent market, Smith will have a chance to make the Mets’ roster in the fourth outfielder role.
Arodys Vizcaíno
VizcaÍno last appeared in the majors in 2019, making just four appearances before undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery. In his previous four seasons with the Braves, the right-handed reliever pitched to a 2.79 ERA while recording 49 saves in 59 opportunities. Shoulder injuries have plagued the 29-year-old for much of his career, but when healthy his fastball has been clocked as high as 101 miles-per-hour.
Of course, a high velocity fastball can be squared up if it lacks movement. Fortunately, Vizcaíno pairs his heater with a spin rate that ranked in the majors’ 86th percentile in 2018. Although his health is a concern, a high-upside arm like Vizcaino is worth a closer look in Spring Training.
Johneshwy Fargas
If this name sounds familiar, it’s likely because he turned heads for the Mets in Port St. Lucie this past spring, even hitting for the cycle in a Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals. The soon-to-be 26-year-old outfielder has stolen 235 bases over seven minor league seasons, eclipsing the 40-steal mark on four different occasions. Like the aforementioned Mallex Smith, Fargas’s calling card is his speed. His offensive ceiling is limited, which explains why he has yet to make the jump to “the Show.” He hit .288 for the Giants’ high-A affiliate in San Jose in 2018, a season that also saw him hit a career-best eight home runs. His average dropped to .249 when he was promoted to Double-A in 2019, and he’s never posted an OPS better than .775. While Fargas doesn’t offer much with the bat, the right-handed hitter could be a useful pinch-runner when rosters expand late in the season.
José Peraza
Peraza is a former top prospect who has been included in a pair of blockbuster trades, including the three-team deal that sent Todd Frazier from the Reds to the White Sox in 2015. He’s spent parts of six seasons in the majors, and while his offensive performance has been inconsistent at best, his greatest value may come from his defensive versatility. Peraza has played every position on the diamond except for first base and catcher. For the 26-year-old to latch on as a utility option for the Mets, he’ll need to become a more disciplined hitter: he’s walked in just four percent of his career plate appearances.
Searle’s Final Say
Most of the players the Mets signed to minor league contracts on November 4th were already in the organization. But those that weren’t — like Mallex Smith, Arodyz Vizcaíno, and José Peraza — could prove to be strong depth options. Of course, a lingering question looms over these moves: might these be the last transactions made by current GM Brodie Van Wagenen? With new owner Steve Cohen set to take control in the coming weeks, Van Wagenen’s tenure may soon be at an end.
