Mets sign INF Joey Wendle to 1-year contract

Field Level Media|published: Thu 30th November, 20:53 2023

Sep 3, 2023; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Miami Marlins shortstop Joey Wendle (18) at bat against the Washington Nationals during the first inning at Nationals Park. credits: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Mets increased the position versatility of their roster with the signing of infielder Joey Wendle to a one-year contract on Thursday.

The deal is worth $2 million, according to a report on MLB.com.

An American League All-Star in 2021 with the Tampa Bay Rays, Wendle played the past two seasons for the Miami Marlins, hitting a career-low .212 last season with a .248 on-base percentage and .306 slugging percentage in 297 at-bats over 112 games.

Wendle, 33, played 107 games (81 starts) at shortstop last season, and in eight seasons has played that position (196 games) as well as second base (251), third base (225), outfield (18; 16 in left, two in right) and designated hitter (one).

The left-handed hitter was selected by Cleveland in the sixth round of the 2012 MLB June Amateur Draft and was traded to Oakland in December 2014, later making his big-league debut for the Athletics in August 2016.

Wendle was traded from Oakland to Tampa Bay in December 2017, and from the Rays to the Marlins in November 2021. For his career, he has batted .263 with 128 doubles, 18 triples, 32 home runs and 219 RBIs in 2,106 at-bats over 649 games.

The Mets also signed free-agent right-hander Austin Adams on Thursday. Adams, 32, was 0-1 in his only season with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2023, recording a 5.71 ERA with 22 strikeouts and eight walks in 17 1/3 innings.

Adams has pitched for the Washington Nationals (2017-19), Seattle Mariners (2019), San Diego Padres (2020-22) and Arizona. He is 6-5 with a 4.17 ERA, 170 strikeouts and 75 walks in 114 1/3 innings.

—Field Level Media