– UPDATE –
The New York Mets have officially signed Adeiny Hechavarria to a minor league deal with an invite to big league camp.
Hechavarria passed his physical in Port St. Lucie this morning, and will be participating in workouts on Tuesday morning.
On the Mets added depth this offseason, Mets manager Mickey Callaway told reporters this afternoon, “If anything bad happens, we can withstand that.”
– ORIGINAL –
Tim Healey of Newsday reports that the Mets have agreed to a minor-league deal with infielder Adeiny Hechavarria, including an invite to big-league camp.
The natural shortstop had posted a photo of his new blue and orange uniform on an Instagram story a few minutes prior to Healey’s announcement. Anthony Dicomo of MLB.com reports that the deal is pending a physical.
Hechavarria, 29, played 98 games between the Tampa Bay Rays, Pittsburgh Pirates, and New York Yankees this past year, hitting just .247/.279/.345 with six home runs and 31 RBI. His 68 wRC+ since 2016 is the second-lowest in baseball ahead of fellow shortstop Alcides Escobar, though his 3.3 dWAR and 17 DRS in that time (the fifth-highest among shortstops) have been his saving grace.
Per Healey, Hechavarria “has a good shot” at cracking the 25-man roster out of spring training. In so doing, he would likely serve as a defensive replacement behind Amed Rosario – the only other natural shortstop on the roster, while pushing the likes of Dominic Smith, J.D. Davis, T.J. Rivera, Luis Guillorme, and Gavin Cecchini further back in line as potential depth options.
With a 34.2% hard-hit rate and 22.2% line-drive rate (12th and 11th last year among big-league shortstops, respectively), there’s a reason to believe he can be remotely productive in a limited role. He could possibly see time at third base, as well, though his 10 career innings at the hot corner (none prior to 2018) could stand in the way.
