Mets Sign Omar Quintanilla

SATURDAY: The Mets have officially announced the signing (on Twitter).

THURSDAY: The Mets are set to sign infielder Omar Quintanilla to a minor league deal with a spring training invite, a baseball source told Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com.  The MVP Sports Group client spent the first half of 2012 with the Mets before he was traded to the Orioles in July for cash considerations.

In 65 total games for Baltimore and New York, Quintanilla hit .243/.312/.361 with four homers.  The Mets traded the 31-year-old after they were forced to designate him for assignment to create roster space for Jason Bay.  Rubin writes that the Mets didn't want to trade Quintanilla but felt compelled to since he would have been claimed off of waivers otherwise.

Quintanilla will vie with Brandon Hicks for a backup middle infield role out of spring training, but Hicks may have a leg up since he is on the 40-man and the Mets gave the A's cash for him in late November.  The Mets have yet to sign a free agent to a major league deal.

Mike Axisa contributed to this post.