The New York Mets had employed Joey Wendle as a backup infielder to this point.
However, in an attempt to shore up the offense, they have decided to get Wendle off the roster and give more chances to Mark Vientos, who will be splitting time with Brett Baty at third base.
“The Mets have designated Joey Wendle for assignment,” SNY Mets tweeted.
Wendle has versatility: he can play all over the infield.
He also has experience.
That’s basically the extent of his contributions/skillset, though.
Offensively, he hasn’t been good for a while.
The Mets signed him to a one-year deal in the offseason, but now prefer to go without a traditional backup infielder to jettison Wendle off the roster.
Truth be told, the writing was on the wall for him not only because of his lack of production in 2024, but also because he didn’t really play well last season either.
He was hitting .222/.243/.250 in 37 plate appearances for the Mets this year, and hit .212/.248/.306 in 318 plate appearances for the Miami Marlins in 2023.
There is a chance Wendle elects to remain with the Mets as Triple-A insurance, but there could be a market for him to return to MLB in some capacity.
Wendle hasn’t been a respectable hitter since 2021, when he was with the Tampa Bay Rays.
That year, he hit 31 doubles and accumulated a .741 OPS.
It was the last time he had an OPS of at least .700, and his career mark stands at .695.
The Mets are giving the younger Vientos a chance to finally deliver on his potential, and they needed a roster spot.
