The New York Mets will have an additional experienced infielder to consider for a utility role this spring
Nick Madrigal, a player known for his good glove on defense, signed a split contract with the New York Mets on Friday.
The MLB portion of the contract is worth $1.35 million dollars, according to The Post, and contains another $500,000 in performance bonuses
The 27-year-old spent the last three seasons with the Chicago Cubs. Last year, he appeared in 51 games and produced an OPS of .535.
He will join another former Cubs player, Jared Young, in camp as someone with MLB experience competing for an infield spot
Iglesias and Alonso still waiting for a deal with the Mets
Jose Iglesias excelled in a utility role in the Mets’ infield last season, but there hasn’t been much impetus at the moment for a reunion
Iglesias has not been ruled out, but the team’s front office also does not feel it is necessary to add another veteran backup given the number of infielders within the system who could be ready to contribute this year.
It is a list that includes Luisangel Acuna, Ronny Mauricio and Jett Williams.
The Mets also began playing Brett Baty at second base on the Triple-A team in Syracuse during the second half of last season
Mauricio missed all of last season due to rehabilitation following surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament (he underwent a subsequent procedure to remove scar tissue from the knee), and he may not be an option to start the season with the team.
But a player like Madrigal can serve as a bridge if Mauricio or Acuna are not considered the best option to start the season for the Mets, who took a similar approach last year, opening the season with Zack Short and Joey Wendle on the roster.
Both were removed from the equation in late May, giving Iglesias a chance on the roster.
As it stands, the Mets are unsettled with their infielders as Pete Alonso’s free agency continues. If Alonso does not re-sign, Mark Vientos and Baty are in the plan to fill in at first base.
But if the Mets and Alonso can still reach an agreement, that would allow Vientos to remain at third.
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