The Mets have agreed to a minor league deal with infielder Christian Arroyo, reports Mike Puma of The New York Post. The O’Connell Sports Management also receives an invite to big league camp in spring training.
Arroyo, 31 in May, was once a notable prospect but he hasn’t been able to do much with scattered big league opportunities. In seven seasons from 2017 to 2023, he appeared in 295 games split between the Giants, Rays, Guardians and Red Sox. In his 992 plate appearances, his 21.7% strikeout rate was decent but he only walked 5.1% of the time and hit just 24 home runs. That led to a combined .252/.299/.394 line and 86 wRC+.
He did at least provide defensive versatility. He has experience at all four infield spots as well as right field. But the lack of offensive output has kept him in the minors for the past two years. He signed a minor league deal with the Brewers for the 2024 season and the Phillies for 2025, without getting called up by either club.
With the Phils last year, he went on and off the minor league injured list throughout the season. He got into just 45 Triple-A games on the year. His .314/.384/.485 line in those was quite strong but aided by a .375 batting average on balls in play.
For the Mets, there’s no harm in a non-roster deal to add some more depth. They have the middle infield spots settled with Francisco Lindor at shortstop and Marcus Semien at second base. At first base, Pete Alonso has departed for the Orioles. Jorge Polanco has signed with the Mets and could take over at first but he could also spend significant time in the designated hitter spot. That could allow Mark Vientos to spend time at first and leave Brett Baty as the regular at third. Ronny Mauricio, Luisangel Acuña and Jared Young are also on the roster and could be in the mix.
It’s a fairly crowded group but Mauricio and Young still have options, meaning the Mets could send them to Triple-A for regular at-bats, which could open up room on the bench. It’s also possible that another swap shakes things up, as the Mets are reportedly open to talking Vientos, Mauricio and Acuña in trade talks. If Arroyo is eventually able to earn a roster spot as a veteran bench/utility player, he is out of options.
Photo courtesy of Kim Klement, Imagn Images
David Stearns making boss moves.
Stearns is a joke. Thinks he’s the smartest guy in the room and in MLB. Friedman and many other PBO/GM’s 💩 on him and have the Playoff Series Wins and Championships to back it up. This guy has numerous playoff teams with the Brewers and won only one playoff series (2018)with them. Then he had a playoff run with a 2024 Mets team that he had not much to do with and just tore it all down. Manages the biggest budget in MLB like he’s running it like the small market Brewers. Cohen is probably having second thoughts about giving big money to this overrated PBO.
Giants brass were convinced this guy was gonna be a major league player lol
And they were correct
Injuries have impacted his career. If he can stay healthy, he’d be a valuable asset for the end of any bench. Unfortunately, he can’t stay on the field.
As most front offices are about their 1st round picks.
Be still my heart.
The rage in Wantagh will be palpable
WFAN phonelines are lit up right now.
There’s something nostalgic about the roster of guys that always call in
Meet Jeff McNeill
Moves to get under 300MM.
As a Mets fan, this is the kind of signing that makes you say “these guys know what they’re doing.” Are they serious?!? What are they waiting for? Go get Bellinger!
Sarnz – be prepared for like two more off seasons of this crap. I’ve watched it unfold in Boston for the last six. It’s the same analytics playbook, doesnt matter how much money your owner has. The nerds run the day to day….
I’ve been prepared. The Wilson’s used to own the team remember? Lol
Who are the Wilson’s? I know the Wilpons owned the team but missed the Wilson regime
Bellinger decides when to sign.
Yeah, because a minor league contract preempts their ability to sign anybody else.
Meh
Let’s go Mehs
Always thought he should have been better than he has turned out.
SO FAR.
He’ll be 31 in May. The audition is over.
I’m patiently waiting for Stearns to do something about what is a gaping hole in the outfield. David, do I need to remind you that 125 rbis went out the door?
Dave-O will put him in the pitch lab just to prove how smart he is.
Minor…league…contract. Fills out the Syracuse roster.
The transaction log each day til spring will be filled with these.
The Zack Short deals are the head scratchers…
Why is Stearns acting like Cashman with all these mediocre signings? OMG what’s in the water in NYC
Cashman needs to go get Bichette. Stick him at shortstop, have Volpe learn second ( not Bichette ). The Yankees have Judge and Grisham and Dominguez and Spencer Jones in the outfield (unless rhey have been blowing smoke up our pipes about the can’t miss nature of these prospects,
a la Kevin Maas).
Take rhe pressure off Volpe being rhe next Jeter. He can be the next Robbie Cano, less the juice.
Remember when Giants fans thought this dude was the solution to Joe Panik turning into a turd?
Joe Panik did not turn into a turd.
“If Arroyo is eventually able to earn a roster spot as a veteran bench/utility player, he is out of options.”
—-Sounds like even if he doesn’t earn a roster spot, he’s out of options.
In some timelines Arroyo will get 20 PA in late August when everyone’s hurting. Good for him.
This offseason bites
Maybe we can get Bronson Arroyo too. He’d definitely be better than Montas.
I’m amazed Arroyo hasn’t found his way to Japan yet
Obligatory #ForeverGiant Christian Arroyo comment.
Stearns is Cohen’s Roger Goodell to hide behind with sole intent to maximize the value of his assets. Which in this case was getting the casino. If you look at the eligible free agents for the next four years, this was the class to be aggressive based on the current construct of the organization. Stearns and the Mets have done the polar opposite.
Only thing can count on is for 1) Agents to use Mets to spread rumors they are in on them to drive up contracts 2) Stearns to overpay in making bad trades 3) Moves that do get made are hand-me downs from Brewers/Yankees or like article mentions perceived reclamation project that Boy Genius thinks Mets superior development system can unlock
Bottom line Met fans should reassess their personal time, energy, and money being invested in team.
Sorry. I disagree.
Cohen put $440m into last year’s team because of the fan excitement and trying to get the core over the hump by spending nearly a billion on Soto. It failed. He was loyal to the core but agreed it was time to move on.
It will never be enough for fans. You can argue they made some wrong moves but every team has a limit. The Mets lose money every year at any payroll over $150 m or so. Revenue sharing and tax penalties.
This is exactly why Alex Cohen dropped interacting with fellow fans. She was getting threatening DMs
The NY Post and other local outlets are doing a hatchet job on the Cohens, Lindor and Soto…fans buy in, and it gets personal.
Mike Puma has systematically been poisoning the fan base for clicks. Because his sources for dirt are gone and he is locked out.
The nonsense about Cohen being a closet Yankee fan. No need and it isn’t relevant. And it feeds more personal actions against Stearns and Cohen.
Classless fans. Most of whom never go to Citifield.
Where are you getting information about the 150 million number? How do you know their books?
They announced they lost just under $300m last year due to payroll, penalties and revenue sharing.
Since the payroll plus tax last year was $440m I assume $150-160 is their “profit zone”. I think all of the big spenders show a loss. Especially in financing for debt.
They could be blowing smoke but it makes sense.
Fair enough.I think there is a lot of BS in that personally with the CBA coming up. Problem I have is baseball lies about everything.
I like this move for the Mets