The Mets announced that they have signed infielder Jared Young to a one-year major league contract. The club has multiple vacancies on its 40-man roster and won’t need to make a corresponding move for the Ball Players Agency client. Exact financial figures aren’t known but Will Sammon of The Athletic reports that it’s a split deal with “seven-figure upside.”
Young, 29, has struggled with strikeouts in his very limited major league career but has performed well in the minors and in Korea. In 2022 and 2023, he got into 22 games for the Cubs and stepped to the plate 69 times. He struck out in 29% of those appearances but tallied a few extra base hits and some walks, leading to a .210/.290/.435 line and wRC+ of 98.
He was claimed off waivers by the Cardinals after the 2023 campaign and then outrighted off their roster going into 2024. In July, he signed with the Doosan Bears of the Korea Baseball Organization. His stint in Korea seemed to go very well, as he hit 10 home runs in just 169 plate appearances over a 38-game stretch. He struck out 20.7% of the time while drawing walks at a 12.4% clip. That led to a .326/.420/.660 line and massive 172 wRC+.
His strong performance in Korea and his weak performance in the majors both come in fairly small sample sizes. His body of work in the minors is naturally larger and has been quite good. Over the past four years, he has 1,402 minor league plate appearances. In that time, he has an 11.3% walk rate, 21.5% strikeout rate, .274/.370/.488 batting line and 124 wRC+. Over the past two years, it has been a 13.7% walk rate, 20.7% strikeout rate, .299/.414/.547 line and 145 wRC+.
The Mets are apparently intrigued enough by those numbers to give Young a roster spot, though he still has options and can therefore be kept in Triple-A as a depth piece. Defensively, Young has lined up at all four infield spots, though his shortstop work consists of just nine innings at Low-A back in 2017. He’s also spent some time in the outfield corners, so perhaps there’s a path for Young to fill a utility role in Queens.
Pete Alonso is currently a free agent and could perhaps re-sign with the Mets. But under the current roster construction, Mark Vientos projects as the first baseman since he just had an offensive breakout but with poor glovework at third. Second base is also a bit of a question mark after an uneven season from Jeff McNeil. Guys like Brett Baty, Ronny Mauricio or Luisangel Acuña could perhaps offers solutions at those spots but they’re not fully established majors leaguers yet. Young will give the Mets another option in that mix.
Young has less than a year of service time, which could mean the Mets can cheaply control him for years to come. However, players returning from stints overseas can often negotiate clauses in their contracts that allow them to return to the open market despite not having six years of service time. It’s unclear whether Young will definitely be a free agent again after 2025 or if the Mets can theoretically retain him as long as his service time clock is below six years.
Who?
Odd for a major league contract.
Why major there’s no way he stays on the roster past April
The Mariners haven’t even gotten anyone of his caliber yet.
Major Major Major?
I’ve always liked Young’s swing. He hits everywhere in the Minor Leagues but just can’t seem to do anything when he gets to the Majors. Wish him luck.
So what. He has a minor league option remaining. Also consider that after his success in Korea last year, he probably said that without a major league deal, he’ll go back there. Its more money, and a better resume builder than the minor leagues here.
Incoming “Mets need to do more – they sign Soto and then follow up with this guy?!” posts lol
Relax, they could cut Young without an issue if it comes to it
Slowest offseason ever
Boras four (or five or six with soler and jd Martinez)
Bring back Iglesias!!!
And Alonso and Stanek and Winker!
Young is from one of the most beautiful places in Canada. Almost invested in a vineyard and BnB there a few years back until a Chinese investor came in and doubled our bid. Gorgeous place!
Know absolutely nothing about him as a player other than where he is from. From looking at his stats, seems to be more of an outfielder than infielder.
prince george is gorgeous but there’s maybe 90 days a year where it’s warm and dry enough to play baseball. wonder if he moved south as a kid
Sounds like a weird piercing I don’t want to know about.
Depth piece. Actually had decent AAA numbers past few years. Strange it was a major league contract.
because that’s why he agreed to the contract. it doesn’t mean he can’t be sent down
Nothing makes NYM fans rage out more than depth pieces
True of the fans of most teams.. just read the comments on all the depth signings..
I miss $2 beer nights let alone 10¢. People say I have a problem but what’s a hundred or so beers between friends?
Try bringing up Luis Castillo dropping the pop up.
Probably a split contract, where they’ll plan to pass him through waivers when they need the roster spot.
He got options. Depth move.
Probably not – split contracts are reported as minor league deals and don’t get the player a 40-man roster spot.
The Braves just signed Bryan De La Cruz to a split contract. It’s a reported as a major league deal. He’s now on their 40-man roster. They’ll need to pass him through waivers if they want to remove him from the 40-man to activate the minor league part of the contract.
.285/.411/.506 in 286 Triple-A PAs last season before going to the KBO and hitting .326/.420/.660 in 169 PAs with Doosan. Combined 13.6% walk rate and 19.3% strikeout rate between the two stops. Seems to be a corner guy (1B/3B/LF/RF) so probably just a DJ Stewart replacement. If I’m reading things right, he has an option year left too, so he’s a decent pickup on what’s probably a pretty cheap deal.
Ahhh he does have an option, didnt realize that. Solid depth signing, Im sure the contract will be peanuts (relative).
great handle btw
Soto is attracting all the stars to Flushing…
Replacing Pete Alonso, they spent all their money on a one dimensional generation talent Soto!
Options.
The Mets have options too, and this shouldn’t be one of them. Ahahahaha!
World Series here we come!
Stars and Scrubs strategy for the Mets.
Now sign Greg Bird and show the league you know talent
once again the mets outbid the yankees for a difference-maker. when will it end?
The commissioner needs to step in at some point this is getting ridiculous
I knew it. They blew their load. Have no more money to spend. Stearns back to all he knows gambling off the scrap heap. lol same old Muts. Even with Soto they won’t win crap. Especially with that pitching.
Gotta love trolls who oscillate between “these idiots overpay for everyone! When will the Mutts learn you can’t buy a WS” and “They have no more money! They’re tapped out!! I knew it! I is genius and should run team”.
I liked you better when you trolled as Johnny Utah, you seemed to put more effort into your trolling.
Why won’t Mets make a move for Corbin Burnes? They spent big on 40 year old pitchers the year before last. Burnes is a baby compared to Scherzer and Verlander. Mets better sign some starting pitchers before there’s none left. Are you listening, Uncle Steve and Cousin David?
“They spent big on 40 year old pitchers the year before last.”
On 2-3 year deals. Burnes will get 6+ years and way more total money.
The market is inflated. You either accept that or lose out. Burnes will be younger than both of those guys at the end of the contract.
It would be hilarious if the Mets signed Scherzer and Verlander.
I dont get this move even for depth they have 4 guys (McNeil, Acuna, Mauricio, Baty) fighting for 2 spots (hopefully 1 once alonso realizes he is not getting the big deal boras told him he would get). I get one will probably be traded but i think iglesias is the better pick up and if they get him then you still have 4 people for 1/2 spots with williams on the way.
Its called depth. What don’t you get? Acuna, Mauricio, and Baty have not proven they are major league ready. And all of them, including Young, has an option remaining. So there’ll be room for whoever wins a spot, and whoever doesn’t can go to Syracuse.
2- Even if those three win roster spots in spring, its still a guess as to whether or not they’ll play well enough to hold it. Not to mention injuries, and the possibility of trading away one of them and/or McNeil at some point.
Once again, its called depth.
This is some interesting writing. Why do you need to name his agency and who calls an at bat a “trip to the plate” ? You going for a Pulitzer?
Mets fans getting angry at “trip to the plate” because it sounds too fancy. Never change queens. Kek
That phrase has been around for many years. There’s nothing pompous about it.
2025’s Zack Short…
The Pitching Lab will fix him!
They need some depth in the minors. This guy looks like he could play all 4 infield positions. Best teams are the ones that can bring someone up in an emergency and they get hot for a week or two. Plus looks like he may have some power also. Not every signing is an All Star, look at Braves, Guardians, Royals…next man up mentality.
I’m guessing they don’t have confidence in Schwartz and Meneses . Clifford must be projected for 26 27 seasons.