New York Mets sign outfielder MJ Melendez to a 1-year contract

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NEW YORK (AP) — MJ Melendez and the New York Mets agreed Thursday to a one-year contract, adding depth to an outfield thinned by offseason trades.

He gets a $1.5 million salary while in the major leagues and $425,000 while in the minors.

The 27-year-old Melendez, once a touted prospect with Kansas City, spent most of last season in the minors. He batted .083 (5 for 60) with one home run and two doubles for the Royals.

Melendez is a .215 career hitter with 52 homers, 163 RBIs and a .685 OPS in 435 major league games over four seasons with the Royals. He would have been eligible for arbitration this winter but Kansas City declined to offer him a contract in November, making him a free agent.

A left-handed hitter, Melendez came up as a catcher and corner outfielder in 2022 before moving exclusively to the outfield in 2024 — plus his second of two career appearances at first base.

He can play both corner spots, which makes him a potential fit for the Mets after they traded Brandon Nimmo to Texas and Jeff McNeil to the Athletics this offseason. Former right fielder Starling Marte became a free agent at age 37.

Star slugger Juan Soto is moving from right field to left, and Tyrone Taylor is an excellent defender who projects as a fourth outfielder. Top prospect Carson Benge, drafted in the first round from Oklahoma State in 2024, will get an opportunity to make the team in right — but he has only 24 games of Triple-A experience.

Luis Robert Jr. was acquired in a trade with the Chicago White Sox to play center.

Melendez batted .261 with 20 homers, 64 RBIs, 20 steals and an .813 OPS in 107 games at Triple-A Omaha last year.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB