The team has invited the former National to spring training.
The Mets have signed Joey Meneses to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training, according to Jon Heyman. The 32-year-old has spent the last three seasons with the Nationals, slashing .274/.322/.408 with 29 homers, a 101 wRC+, and a 0.5 fWAR in 286 at-bats for Washington.
Meneses was originally a member of the Braves’ system from 2011-2017 and the Phillies’ system in 2018, though never appeared in the majors for either team. He then played for the Orix Buffaloes of Nippon Professional Baseball before signing with the Red Sox in 2020—he would only play for their system in 2021 because the 2020 minor league season was cancelled.
After electing free agency following the 2021 season, he landed in Washington, where he finally got his big break after the Nationals traded Juan Soto and Josh Bell to the Padres. He debuted in August and hit a home run—against the Mets—in his debut. He followed it up with an 11-game hitting streak early into his career. He finished his first go-around hitting .324/.367/.563 with 13 homers, a 158 wRC+, and a 1.7 fWAR in 56 games. He failed to replicate that success as his playing time increased in subsequent seasons. He hit .275/.321/.401 with 13 homers, a 97 wRC+, and a -0.2 fWAR in 154 games in 2023, and he really struggled in 2024, slashing .231/.291/.302 with three homers, a 68 wRC+, and a -1.0 fWAR in 68 games before he was optioned to Triple-A in July. He elected free agency earlier this month.
The right handed-hitting Meneses primarily plays first base, but has also played a few games at right and left field. Given his bat, he can also serve as a Designated Hitter. He should get a chance to make the team for hit bat, which has shown of power during his brief big league career.