Mets, MJ Melendez Agree to Deal

The New York Mets are adding to their bench. The club on Sunday agreed on a one-year, $1.5 million Major League deal with outfielder MJ Melendez, first reported by Jon Heyman of the New York Post. The deal includes $500k in incentives. The Mets have not announced the signing yet due to a pending physical.

Mets Agree to Deal with MJ Melendez

Melendez has had a bumpy career. The former Kansas City Royal was once considered a top prospect back in 2021 when he was seen as one of the best power-hitting prospects at the time. Drafted in the second round in the 2017 MLB Draft, Melendez reached the top 100 prospects list and was the Royals’ top catching prospect before making his debut.

Melendez’s best season came during his rookie year in 2022, when he slashed .217/.313/.393 with 18 home runs and 62 RBIs, finishing with a 99 OPS+ — just one point shy of the league average (100 OPS+) — across 129 games. That remains the only season in which he posted a positive WAR (0.5).

In 2025, Melendez made the Royals’ Opening Day roster, but after struggling through 23 games, the team optioned him to Triple-A Omaha. He did not receive another call-up, despite showing noticeable improvement at the plate. The 27-year-old produced a .263/.323/.813 slash line with the Storm Chasers, hitting 20 home runs and driving in 64 runs over 107 games.

Importantly for the Mets, Melendez has an accessible Minor League option, meaning the team can shuttle him back and forth between the Majors and Minors without penalty.

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Melendez is not known for his defense and is widely regarded as below average in that area. In 2025, he appeared in 23 games in the outfield — 17 in left field and six in right. Over the course of his career, Melendez has logged 218 games in left field, 97 in right, 88 at catcher, and two at first base.

With the Mets, Melendez is expected to spend most of his time as a designated hitter, though he could also see occasional action at first base.

He is also set to represent Team Puerto Rico in the upcoming World Baseball Classic.