The Tampa Bay Rays signed minor league free agent Allan Dykstra to a minor league contract on Saturday.
Originally a first round pick for the San Diego Padres in 2007, the Mets acquired him in 2011 for minor league reliever Eddie Kunz.
Dykstra spent four seasons with the Mets and always maintained an on-base percentage north of .400 at every level. Last season he batted .280/.426./504 for Triple-A Las Vegas where he made the Pacific Coast League All-Star team.
I was surprised he never got a cup of coffee with the Mets, considering how often the front office and player development people praised his approach at the plate.
“I was in San Diego when he was drafted,” said Sandy Alderson last season. “A couple of us were involved in trading for him from San Diego to bring him here. He has had a great season, and he has approached the game, offensively, the way the organization hopes to approach the game at the major-league level.”
Dykstra, 27, played mostly first base and should get an opportunity to win a job on the bench this Spring for the Rays.
