Mets Sign Joey Meneses and Hobie Harris to Minor League Deals

The New York Mets have bolstered their roster with the addition of first baseman Joey Meneses and reliever Hobie Harris, both on minor league deals. The news was initially reported by Jon Heyman of the New York Post and MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo.

Joey Meneses, a 32-year-old former Washington Nationals player, had an impressive rookie season in 2022, hitting .324/.367/.563 in 56 games. However, he struggled to maintain that form in the subsequent seasons. In 2023, Meneses posted a .275/.321/.401 slash line with 13 homers over 154 contests. His performance dipped further this year, finishing with a .231/.291/.302 mark and three home runs in 313 plate appearances. After being waived by the Nationals at the season’s end, Meneses chose minor league free agency when he went unclaimed.

Meneses will now vie for a spot on the Mets' roster as a right-handed bench bat. Depending on the offseason moves, such as the potential departure of Pete Alonso or re-signing of Jesse Winker, Meneses could find opportunities at first base or as a designated hitter.

Hobie Harris, 31, also a former Nationals player, has had limited major league experience. In 2023, he pitched in 16 games, allowing 12 runs over 19 1/3 innings, with 13 walks and nine strikeouts. Harris spent this past season in Triple-A with the Twins, posting an ERA close to seven over 54 1/3 innings. Despite his struggles, Harris has a fastball that can reach 94-95 MPH and managed to miss bats on 14.6% of his pitches this year. The Mets see potential in Harris as a valuable minor league bullpen asset.

​These signings indicate the Mets’ strategic approach to building depth and exploring potential talents who could make significant contributions to their roster in the upcoming season. Fans will be watching closely to see how Meneses and Harris perform and whether they can make their way back to the big leagues.