The Mets have signed infielder/outfielder José Rondón to a minor league deal, as listed on his transactions tracker at MLB.com. The infielder announced the move on Instagram last week.
Rondón, 30 in March, has 169 games of major league experience, getting part-time action in four different seasons from 2016 to 2021. He bounced around from the Padres to the White Sox, Orioles and Cardinals in that time, making 380 plate appearances. He hit .216/.274/.353 in that time while playing all four infield positions, the outfield corners and even tossing an inning on the mound.
He was non-tendered by the Cardinals after that 2021 campaign and headed into the open market. In April of 2022, it was announced by Major League Baseball that Rondón was one of three players who received an 80-game suspension after testing positive for the performance-enhancing substance Boldenone.
He didn’t end up signing with an affiliated club that year, but joined the Toros de Tijuana of the Mexican League for the 2023 season. In 72 games for that club, he slashed .286/.367/.465. He then joined Leones del Caracas of the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League for winter ball, hitting .338/.413/.624 in 56 games for that club.
It appears those solid numbers in Mexico and/or the gaudy numbers in Venezuela attracted the attention of the Mets. It’s possible he’s more of an outfielder now, as that’s where he has been playing for the Leones, while the Toros only gave him brief time on the infield last year.
The Mets are set to have an outfield of Brandon Nimmo, Harrison Bader, Starling Marte and Tyrone Taylor this year, but all of them have dealt with significant injuries, either recently or in their career generally. DJ Stewart is on the roster but he’s considered a poor fielder and best suited for a designated hitter/bench bat role. Jeff McNeil could be in the outfield at some point but is slated to be the everyday second baseman for now.
To improve that depth, the Mets have signed guys like Trayce Thompson and Taylor Kohlwey to minor league deals but will now add Rondón into that mix as well. The Mets also have questions at third base, with Ronny Mauricio potentially missing the upcoming season due to a torn ACL. That leaves them with unproven younger players like Brett Baty and Mark Vientos alongside veteran utility guy Joey Wendle. If Rondón can still play the hot corner, that could be another path for him to get big league playing time if he can continue hitting the way he has been in winter ball.
That Syracuse infield is getting crowded. Seems like there might not be room for both Acuna and Jackson.
Please tell me you meant Jett Williams but said Jackson because of The Famous Jett Jackson.
No. Jett Williams is opening the season at AA. I meant Jeremiah Jackson.
30 year old Rondón not getting in the way of Acuna or Jackson. I’d expect those 2 to be starting at 2B and 3B, unless they want to keep Acuna at SS. I hear his arm is more second than short though, plus Lindor in the way. Maybe keep Jose Iglesias between the youngsters as a vet presence.
I realize I’m overstating it a bit. But there is a crowd. Iglesias, Bannon, Sanchez, Luke Ritter. and now Rondon. That doesn’t leave room for two more infielders unless there is an injury (and granted, there are always injuries). Let’s keep in mind that Zack Short is likely to get DFA’s, and possibly outrighted, as well.
Jackson can also play OF, but there’s a crowd there, too, right now. The most likely scenario I see is that Carlos Cortes gets released or demoted to AA as roster filler for his last year in the organization.
@geofft Sarcasm, I hope. Guys like Rondon will be pieced in around the Mets’ prospects even to the point of shuffling them down to an A-ball bench rather than having them in the way of prospects who have a shot at playing on the next good Mets team in, say, 2027.
@ JackStrawb
Yes, clearly none of these guys is going to block a promising prospect if and when the Mets feel that prospect is ready. But signing so many of these scrubby veterans raises the question of whether the Mets might suspect that one or both of the prospects is not ready to move up.
As for moving these guys to single-A, that just isn’t happening anymore since the minor league contraction/realignment. We seldom even see these types sent to AA. More likely that one or more of the vets has opt outs that the Mets expect the player(s) to exercise.
As a Met fan I gotta say I’m thrilled! ️
“The Mets also have questions at third base, with Ronny Mauricio potentially missing the upcoming season due to a torn ACL. That leaves them with unproven younger players like Brett Baty and Mark Vientos …”
I keep seeing people say this and I keep having the same question pop into my head… What, exactly, has Mauricio proven? He has 108 plate appearances in the bigs!
I’m taking the Over on Rondon getting 12 PA in August, 2024.
All the Mets need is one of Baty, Vientos or Mauricio to step up and grab 3B by the horns. More options are better than fewer. Ronny hasn’t proven anything but there’s one less option there now.
@ God’s Other Son
You’re right that Mauricio has not proven anything. But he has demonstrated a live bat, and did so in his first call-up. Yes, it only lasted 2.5 weeks before he stopped hitting at the tail end of the season. And its likely that he will see more starts and stops before he establishes himself. But the talent is clearly there. He also has the physical tools to play 3B. Vientos seems to have no defensive acumen, and Baty still isn’t hitting 350 ABs into his major league career and is also struggling defensively.
Mauricio was just one more option. And one who, as a switch hitter, could be mixed and matched with either of the others if platoon splits should emerge.