Mets reportedly sign $2.25M veteran Gold Glove finalist as possible Carson Benge replacement

The New York Mets are coming off a disappointing season in which they faltered badly. The team held the best record in baseball at the start of summer, but by the end of the year, New York had completely missed the playoffs.

“The New York Mets, losers of six straight, are down 6-0 and facing Jacob deGrom. Since starting 45-24 and owning the best record in MLB, the Mets are 31-47, better than only the Rockies, Twins and Nationals. This isn't a collapse. It's a disintegration,” ESPN’s Jeff Passan posted.

The Mets have had a strong offseason to ensure that kind of collapse doesn’t happen again. They made several major moves over the winter and added another on Opening Day by signing Tommy Pham.

“Outfielder Tommy Pham, one of the best remaining free agents, officially signs a one-year, minor league deal with the Mets that will pay him $2.25 million when he reaches the big leagues. He has an April 25 opt-out,” USA Today’s Bob Nightengale wrote.

Pham is getting a late start, so he will have about a month to work his way onto the big league roster unless he opts out. He could also serve as a potential replacement for Carson Benge if the youngster struggles early.

“Now back with the Mets, he’ll ramp up in Triple-A in hopes of hitting his way onto the big league roster. The Mets broke camp with top prospect Carson Benge as their starting right fielder, and the hope is that he’ll hit the ground running, but one of New York’s top fallback plans, Mike Tauchman, is out for the foreseeable future after suffering a meniscus tear at the very end of spring training. Pham gives the Mets another veteran option to consider in the event that Benge, who’ll make his big league debut with only 116 professional games under his belt, is overmatched against big league pitching early in the year,” MLB Trade Rumors’ Steve Adams wrote.

The Mets are doing whatever it takes to ensure they return to the playoffs. If the team struggles again, manager Carlos Mendoza could find himself on the hot seat.

New York has the talent to make a deep run this season, and adding Pham only strengthens the roster. The key will be getting him consistent at-bats once he is fully comfortable at the plate in the minors.

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