The Mets signed Meneses on Thursday to a minor-league deal with an invite to MLB spring training, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Meneses elected free agency Nov. 4 after the Nationals removed him from their 40-man roster. The 32-year-old was in the middle of his third season in the big leagues before being optioned to Triple-A Rochester on July 4 as he was putting up his worst season yet. He had an OPS of .593 during 2024 with the Nationals, but was able to put up a .793 OPS in the minors after his demotion. The right-handed bat now has a chance to earn a spot on the roster of a National League East opponent.
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Joey Meneses: Hits free-agent market
Rotowire
Meneses elected free agency Monday, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.
The Nationals booted Meneses from their 40-man roster, and he has opted to test out free agency rather than accepting an outright assignment. Meneses was a solid regular for the Nationals from 2022-23 but bottomed out with a .593 OPS in 2024 and spent much of the season in the minors.
The Nationals optioned Meneses to Triple-A Rochester on Thursday.
Through 313 plate appearances, Meneses has slashed just .231/.291/.306 -- his worst season at the plate in his three-year MLB career -- and he'll now attempt to right the ship in the minors. Meanwhile, the Nationals will likely turn to Harold Ramirez or Ildemaro Vargas to start at first base until Joey Gallo (hamstring) is able to return from the injured list.
Meneses went 3-for-5 with a double and three RBI in Monday's 7-6 extra-inning loss to the Padres.
All three of Meneses' hits drove in a run to erase the Padres' early 3-0 lead. He's been hitting well lately, going 15-for-46 (.326) with 10 RBI and five extra-base hits over his last 13 games. Meneses is at a .246/.302/.327 slash line for the year while adding three home runs, two stolen bases, 40 RBI and 18 runs scored over 275 plate appearances. He had a slow start in 2023 as well, but he'd need a big second half to get up to his level from last year (.275/.321/.401).
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Nationals' Joey Meneses: Homers, drives in three in win
Rotowire
Meneses went 1-for-3 with a home run and three RBI in a 4-0 win over the Marlins on Saturday.
Meneses opened the scoring with a sacrifice fly in the first inning then hit a two-run home run in the eighth. Meneses has enjoyed a modest five-game hit streak in which he has gone 7-for-15 with a homer and six RBI. Meneses had been losing out on playing time recently but is making the most of his opportunities since Joey Gallo (hamstring) hit the injured list Wednesday. On the season, Meneses is slashing .244/.305/.332 with three home runs and 36 RBI over 243 plate appearances.
Meneses will start at first base and bat sixth in Wednesday's game against the Tigers.
Meneses had been on the bench for each of the Nationals' previous three games, but he'll get the first opportunity to enter the lineup in place of Joey Gallo (hamstring), who landed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday. After turning in a .722 OPS in his first full season in the big leagues in 2023, Meneses has taken a big step back thus far in 2024, slashing just .232/.292/.296 with a miniscule .064 ISO across 226 plate appearances.
