The New York Mets signed infielder Nick Madrigal on Friday, to a one-year contract. It is a split deal worth different amounts in the Majors and Minors.
On paper, Madrigal will replace Jose Iglesias, a prominent infielder whom the Mets did not pursue in free agency. Unlike Iglesias, Madrigal has an accessible Minor League option, which allows the Mets to start him out at Triple-A Syracuse if they want.
Madrigal batted .317 his first two major league campaigns, but hasn’t reached that height since. He delivered a .251/.304/.312 slash line since then. Like Inglesias, Nick can play second and third base and is one of the harder hitters to strike out. He did so in only 9 percent of his career plate appearances.
Nick was traded to the Chicago Cubs in a deal for Craig Kimbrel at the 2021 Trade Deadline, and was non-tendered after last term.
This spring, the right-handed hitter will face Luisangel Acuña, Luis De Los Santos, Brett Baty and Jared Young, for a position in the Mets’ Opening Day roster. If he does not, then he might end up in Triple-A.
