NEW YORK — MJ Melendez and the New York Mets agreed Thursday to a one-year contract, adding depth to an outfield thinned by offseason trades.<\/p>\n
He gets a $1.5-million salary while in the major leagues and $425,000 while in the minors.<\/p>\n
The 27-year-old Melendez, once a touted prospect with Kansas City, spent most of last season in the minors. He batted .083 (5-for-60) with one home run and two doubles for the Royals.<\/p>\n
Melendez is a .215 career hitter with 52 homers, 163 RBI and a .685 OPS in 435 major league games during four seasons with the Royals. He would have been eligible for arbitration this winter but Kansas City declined to offer him a contract in November, making him a free agent.<\/p>\n
A left-handed hitter, Melendez came up as a catcher and corner outfielder in 2022 before moving exclusively to the outfield in 2024 — plus his second of two career appearances at first base.<\/p>\n
He can play both corner spots, which makes him a potential fit for the Mets after they traded Brandon Nimmo to Texas and Jeff McNeil to the Athletics this offseason. Former right fielder Starling Marte became a free agent at age 37.<\/p>\n
Juan Soto is moving from right field to left, and Tyrone Taylor is an excellent defender who projects as a fourth outfielder. Top prospect Carson Benge, drafted in the first round in 2024, will get an opportunity to make the team in right — but he has only 24 games of Triple-A experience. Luis Robert Jr. was acquired in a trade with the Chicago White Sox to play center.<\/p>\n
Melendez batted .261 with 20 homers, 64 RBI, 20 steals and an .813 OPS in 107 games at Triple-A Omaha last year.<\/p>\n
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