Mets Officially Release 2 Veterans Before MLB Offseason

The New York Mets have cleared two veteran depth pieces from their organization, as utilityman Vidal Bruján and slugger MJ Melendez both elected free agency, according to the MiLB transaction log.

The moves, logged under the Syracuse Mets, formally end their tenures in Queens after seasons marked by limited major-league roles and stronger Triple-A production.

Bruján, a 28-year-old switch-hitting utility player, arrived via a January cash deal from the Minnesota Twins after brief stints with the Atlanta Braves and other clubs.

He appeared in just nine games for the Mets, posting a .091/.167/.091 line in 13 plate appearances.

Out of options and repeatedly designated for assignment, he was outrighted to Syracuse, where he fared better: in 65 games he hit .278/.385/.421 with five home runs, 34 RBIs, and 16 stolen bases.

A former top prospect with the Tampa Bay Rays, Bruján has now played for six MLB teams across parts of six seasons, carrying a career .197/.266/.272 slash line.

With more than three years of service time, he held the right to elect free agency after being outrighted off the 40-man roster.

Melendez, 27, signed a one-year, $1.5 million split contract with the Mets in February after being non-tendered by the Kansas City Royals.

He logged 56 games and 144 plate appearances in the majors, batting .192/.315/.350 with four home runs and 11 RBIs before being optioned in late June and later designated for assignment in early August to clear a roster spot.

In Triple-A Syracuse he thrived, posting a .264/.361/.604 line with 22 home runs in 75 games, earning recognition as a key contributor for the affiliate.

A second-round pick in 2017 who debuted as a catcher before shifting primarily to the outfield and DH, Melendez owns a career .213/.298/.385 MLB line with 56 home runs but has long been viewed as a Quad-A profile—productive in the minors yet inconsistent against big-league pitching.

Both players spent the bulk of 2026 as organizational depth after early roster turbulence.

Their simultaneous free-agency elections on the same day reflect the Mets’ postseason roster housekeeping as the club turns its attention to 2027.

Neither is expected to command a significant major-league contract, though Melendez’s left-handed power could draw interest from clubs seeking bench or Triple-A depth, while Bruján’s defensive versatility and speed remain usable in a utility role.

The Mets, who finished 74-88, continue reshaping a roster that already featured several high-profile offseason additions and midseason trades.