The Mets introduced that they’ve signed infielder Jared Younger to a one-year main league contract. The membership has a number of vacancies on its 40-man roster and received’t have to make a corresponding transfer for the Ball Gamers Company consumer. Actual monetary figures aren’t recognized however Will Sammon of The Athletic studies that it’s a cut up take care of “seven-figure upside.”
Younger, 29, has struggled with strikeouts in his very restricted main league profession however has carried out nicely within the minors and in Korea. In 2022 and 2023, he obtained into 22 video games for the Cubs and stepped to the plate 69 instances. He struck out in 29% of these appearances however tallied just a few further base hits and a few walks, resulting in a .210/.290/.435 line and wRC+ of 98.
He was claimed off waivers by the Cardinals after the 2023 marketing campaign after which outrighted off their roster going into 2024. In July, he signed with the Doosan Bears of the Korea Baseball Group. His stint in Korea appeared to go very nicely, as he hit 10 house runs in simply 169 plate appearances over a 38-game stretch. He struck out 20.7% of the time whereas drawing walks at a 12.4% clip. That led to a .326/.420/.660 line and big 172 wRC+.
His sturdy efficiency in Korea and his weak efficiency within the majors each are available pretty small pattern sizes. His physique of labor within the minors is of course bigger and has been fairly good. Over the previous 4 years, he has 1,402 minor league plate appearances. In that point, he has an 11.3% stroll price, 21.5% strikeout price, .274/.370/.488 batting line and 124 wRC+. Over the previous two years, it has been a 13.7% stroll price, 20.7% strikeout price, .299/.414/.547 line and 145 wRC+.
The Mets are apparently intrigued sufficient by these numbers to provide Younger a roster spot, although he nonetheless has choices and might subsequently be stored in Triple-A as a depth piece. Defensively, Younger has lined up in any respect 4 infield spots, although his shortstop work consists of simply 9 innings at Low-A again in 2017. He’s additionally spent a while within the outfield corners, so maybe there’s a path for Younger to fill a utility function in Queens.
Pete Alonso is presently a free agent and will maybe re-sign with the Mets. However below the present roster building, Mark Vientos initiatives as the primary baseman since he simply had an offensive breakout however with poor glovework at third. Second base can be a little bit of a query mark after an uneven season from Jeff McNeil. Guys like Brett Baty, Ronny Mauricio or Luisangel Acuña may maybe gives options at these spots however they’re not totally established majors leaguers but. Younger will give the Mets an alternative choice in that blend.
Younger has lower than a yr of service time, which may imply the Mets can cheaply management him for years to come back. Nonetheless, gamers coming back from stints abroad can usually negotiate clauses of their contracts that permit them to return to the open market regardless of not having six years of service time. It’s unclear whether or not Younger will certainly be a free agent once more after 2025 or if the Mets can theoretically retain him so long as his service time clock is beneath six years.
