The Mets have agreed to a one-year deal with MJ Melendez, reports Jon Heyman of the New York Post. It’s a $1.5MM pact that includes $500K in incentives. Melendez is a Boras Corporation client.
Melendez broke camp with the Royals last season, but was sent to Triple-A midway through April. He spent another week with the big-league club in July, and finished his 2025 season with just five hits in 65 MLB plate appearances. Kansas City non-tendered Melendez after the season rather than pay him a projected $2.65MM in arbitration, and he wraps up his time in the organization with an 88 wRC+ over 1652 PA across parts of four seasons — a disappointment for a player once considered one of the Royals’ top prospects.
The 27-year-old Melendez did well to garner a guaranteed deal after the rough showing in not just 2025, but for the bulk of his big league career. The Mets are likely intrigued by his numbers at Omaha last season (.261/.323/.490 with 20 homers and 20 steals over 480 plate appearances) and his past top-100 prospect pedigree. Melendez is also arbitration-controlled through the 2029 season, due to Super Two status.
While the Royals were ready to part ways with Melendez, there is some change-of-scenery potential as he heads to Queens. For a relatively inexpensive one-year deal, it’s a risk the Mets are willing to take, though it should be noted that Melendez’s overall price tag is boosted by New York’s luxury tax overages. Because the Mets have exceeded the top tax threshold in each of the last four seasons, Melendez will really cost the team $3.15MM, between Melendez’s salary and then the 110% tax bill.
On paper, Melendez provides some outfield depth for a team planning to give star prospect Carson Benge a full shot at the everyday left field job. Benge has yet to make his Major League debut, so having another experienced outfielder like Melendez on hand gives the Mets some coverage if Benge isn’t yet ready for the Show. That said, Melendez (a converted catcher) has been a subpar defender as a left fielder, so he remains a question mark with both his glove and his bat.
Opening Day LF?
If he makes the roster, maybe, but doubtful. He could also be the emergency catcher.
I mean i know the mets are rich rich now but giving away contracts with 1M+ guaranteed money to guys they are not sure will get out of spring training seems like a expensive tryout
Gotta fill out a roster somehow I guess….MJ has shown over these past few seasons that he can’t play.
No more than a depth option split contract, he likely won’t make the big league team unless several guys fail to meet team expectations.
Who is MJ Melendez?
Was a catching prospect for the Royals who got moved to the OF, he never quite figured out how to hit major league pitching and after years of chances with the royals they non-tendered him this offseason. Mets might be hoping their development team can fix him as a cheap depth option.
Had a 41 homer season in the minors in ‘21 that the Royals always seemed to hold out hope for but never looked like that guy in the majors. Although his rookie season he at least looked like a guy who could take a walk but that deteriorated. The mulitple swing and approach overhauls hes made in the short amount of time cant be great either
Nice signing. Guy’s gonna rake!
Yeah, my yard!
This guy sucks
@Bob Sacamano Couldn’t agree with you more lol
Probably the easiest non-tender the Royals have ever made.
Not a great hitter but definitely has some pop. Any Royals fan out there with info on his defensive skills or lack thereof?
Still very young too.
MJ has a good arm but below average range in the outfield. And his ability to hit has steadily declined at the major league level. He was unplayable last year. Hope he does better for the Mets.
Not good. And on the other side, for the Royals to relinquish an outfielder, thats gotta show you his skills with the bat.
Wow Mets needed a Jose Siri type to take up a roster spot hit .100 and get injured.
As a catcher??
Oops didn’t catch that he was a catcher
Yeah he catches…like “jdthegoat” does when he isn’t on MLBTR crying about something.
;)
$1.5 million right in the trash.
DarkSide830:
Likely a split contract so probably not guaranteed. Probably gets cut in spring training.
How is Melendez 26 and not 40… feels like he’s been disappointing Royals fans for a decade. Having said that, I was always surprised that he didn’t hit more considering his incredible AAA numbers, so worth a shot.
Interesting pickup. Change of scenery might do him good. Platoon LF with Taylor
A 4-A ballplayer gets a major league contract because his agent is Scott Boras. Even on the day of the Super Bowl, you can always count on LOLmets.
ChuckyNJ:
I know you have to meet your quota of stupid comments for the day, but it’s likely a split contract so probably not even guaranteed. You probably don’t even know what that means. I don’t want to hurt your brain. Hey Chuck, do you think any day now the Yankees will actually add a player of some significance this off-season? Probably not right?
The mets not going out and getting one more proven bat is going to bite them in the butt. 5-9 in this lineup is filled completely with what ifs, hope they get it together, might be great etc. And the bench is what? Brujan taylor and Melendez? That’s a joke
ERIKMEGATON:
All those guys at the bottom line up aren’t bad hitters, but they are hitters with questions. So it could go well or not. That being said a bat is something they can add during the season. Or perhaps if Benge is ready, there is the bat. And you do know Baty is on the bench too right? And Melendez probably isn’t making the team. The bench is likely Taylor, Brujan, Torrens, Baty. Nothing wrong with that bench.
For sure, we’ll see how things turn out over time, who produces and who doesnt. I see Baty as starting in LF until Benge comes up, Vientos as DH, which leaves Torrens Taylor Brujan and Melendez on the bench, unless they start Taylor and platoon Baty/Vientos for DH. To me, taylor should not be a starter for one second on a championship seeking team, strictly 4th OFer roll. Mauricio needs to play every day in AAA. Only other player on roster is Young and he should not be on opening say roster of team “going for it”. I’m sure there’s another move or two but seems unlikely that any type of impact bat is coming, we’re just hoping that several guys excel, pretty risky.
Feels like half this dudes homers were against the Red Sox. Glad he’s in the NL now, although I guess it doesn’t matter anymore with how ridiculously the schedule is balanced.
So what exactly does Boras have on the Mets?
Must be something island related?
(Not Long Island either…)
I can’t believe he got a major league contract. Figured some one might sign him but a minor league contract
Don’t hold your breath on this guy, Royals waited for him to develop 2 years too long, he took valuable at bats from someone else, and he hasn’t caught behind the plate in years, forget that emergency catcher thought, he’s not a very good defender in the outfield either. He sucked hitting and would occasionally hit a 3 run homer after slumping 11 games, if he could just be consistent the Royals thought…..well, he can’t