Joey Wendle Elects Free Agency

Veteran utility infielder Joey Wendle has rejected an outright assignment from the Braves and instead elected free agency, per the transaction log at MiLB.com. Atlanta designated Wendle for assignment just three days after signing him to a major league deal and outrighted him last night. He did not appear in a game with the Braves.

The 34-year-old Wendle opened the season with the Mets after signing a one-year, $2MM deal in the offseason. He was seldom used by manager Carlos Mendoza, appearing in only 18 games and tallying 37 plate appearances with a tepid .222/.243/.250 batting line in 37 trips to the plate. It’s the third straight year that Wendle has turned in sub-par offensive numbers, and he did so over a much larger sample with the 2022-23 Marlins. Since being traded from Tampa Bay to Miami in the 2021-22 offseason, Wendle owns just a .237/.273/.331 batting line in 726 turns at the plate. By measure of wRC+, that’s about 34% worse than league-average production.

At his best, Wendle was a versatile utilityman in Tampa Bay — one known for solid contact skills and a diverse defensive skill set that allowed him to capably handle multiple infield slots and both outfield corners. From 2017-21, he slashed a combined .275/.330/.416 — good for a 106 wRC+ (i.e. production that’s roughly 6% better than league average after weighting for home park and league run-scoring environment). He’s seen major league time at every infield position other than first base and in both outfield corners, grading particularly well in the middle infield.

Now that he’s once again a free agent, Wendle can sign with any team seeking some infield depth. A new club will only owe him the prorated league minimum for any time spent on the active roster or major league injured list. That sum would be subtracted from what the Mets owe him through season’s end. New York will remain on the hook for the rest of that $2MM salary.