The Mets are in agreement with first baseman Ji-Man Choi on a minor league contract, according to a Korean-language report from Naver Sports (h/t to Homin Lee). It’s a split deal that’d pay Choi at different rates for time spent in the majors versus Triple-A. While the deal’s base value is still unclear, Naver reports that the contract could max out at $3.5MM if Choi hits all his performance bonuses.
Choi, who turns 33 in May, is seeking to rebound after injuries ruined his 2023 season. The Pirates acquired the eight-year veteran from the Rays last winter to rotate between first base and designated hitter. Choi suffered an Achilles strain within the first two weeks and spent a couple months on the injured list. By the time he returned in early July, he found himself on the trade block.
Pittsburgh sent Choi to the Padres alongside Rich Hill at the deadline. Unfortunately, injuries again quickly intervened early in his stint with his new club. A ribcage strain sent him to the injured list by the middle of August. Choi suffered a Lisfranc injury when he fouled a ball off his right foot during his rehab stint. He was reinstated in mid-September but the Padres were out of contention by that point.
Choi finished his year with just 119 plate appearances over 37 games. He hit .163/.239/.385 in that minimal sample. Choi was quite a bit better for Tampa Bay over his four and a half seasons there. The left-handed hitter ran a .245/.352/.431 batting line in more than 1500 plate appearances with the Rays. That makes him a sensible depth acquisition on a non-roster deal.
The Mets have Pete Alonso locked in at first base. It seems likely they’ll take a look at Mark Vientos at designated hitter, although they’ve at least kept tabs on the market for J.D. Martinez. Choi could look to crack the roster as a lefty bench bat and complement to the righty-hitting Vientos at DH.
Got their Vogel-back.
Came here just to say that.
The Asian version albeit.
Got very unlucky per statcast baseballsavant.mlb.com/savant-player/ji-man-choi-5…
It looks like he was swinging trying to pull a lot more. That could explain his below average whiff rate, K rate, and low chase rate. He was maybe waiting for pitches to pull, maybe a little too selective rather than going with what was thrown to him.
But, that’s just my layman opinion.
DJ Stewart is the left handed DH
For now, maybe. But he’s no lock to stick..
Of course he is. He’s inked in as the Mets 4/5 OFer along with Taylor. Stewart can play RF and hit RHP, unlike every other Mets OFer save Nimmo.
As for Choi, the Mets will only use him if Vientos completely collapses and Alonso goes out with an injury for an extended period.
Overreaction. I’m not saying Choi beats out Stewart for that role. Just saying that Stewart not a lock for anything. Opening day rosters are not fixed, they’re fluid. Its just as plausible that Stewarts regresses as it is that he repeats what he did last year. And if Vientos hits, he could wind up DHing most days.
As for other Met OFs not hitting RHP, that is less than accurate. Taylor has very close splits against RH and LH, but actually hits RHP better and with slightly more power. No telling what Marte will do, given his age and injuries. But his OPS against RHP in 2022 was close to .800, even if he did hit lefties better,
Harrison Bader doesn’t hit anyone much lately. But his splits vary from season to season. And the last time he did hit well (2021) he hit RHP better than lefties.
Stewart’s subpar defense clearly makes him the 5th, not 4th OF and he has an option remaining. Simply put, Stewart has to continue what he did last year. His track record is not established enough to know that he will or won’t.
I won’t forget you rejecting an autograph for me during an Angels spring training game Ji Man! How dare you
Choi went shibalyeo with your request, ouch man.
He did, and what the cherry on top is I had asked him for an autograph when he was walking out of the clubhouse, he told me “Later!” And he walked back in the clubhouse, came back out 15 mins later and I asked again and he just kept walking Lmao! All good though it was a funny moment with the boys and I
Dang. You could have gotten five, maybe six cents for that on eBay.
Ji-Met Choi
Jet Li Chard
It took them long enough to post this. It was on Instagram hours ago.
You’re like 100 years old. What are you doing on instagram? You got tiktok too? I thought you had such a busy life “offline” lol
Your name is Jack Hoffman, is this my 14 year old nephews burner account?
Was I talking to you bozo?
I’m nowhere near that old, but what’s my social media activity to you?
The way you act, you must be about 14. You clearly have nothing intelligent to say, so you resort to name calling.
Great call, LosAngelesAngeles!
Was Blue Baron talking to you bozo? You just felt the need to go after him. What if he was 100? You go after 100 year olds like that? What happened to respect your elders? All of the old timers are thinking the same thing as me and you should just hit the road Jack….and don’t you come back no more no more no more no morrrrreeee!
Thumbs up if you hear the name in your head how Chris Berman would say it.
The Whiz Kid loves to give broken down exBrewers jobs. What a waste he was never any good maybe one year. Stearns really blew it when he let Turner get away.
And you knew Turner would come to the team that released him and then trashed him as being lazy?
It’s a whole new different organization now.
The Jiiii-Man (Chris Berman voice)