The New York Mets added infield depth Friday, signing Nick Madrigal to a one-year split contract, per Joel Sherman of The New York Post.
The deal is worth $1.35 million with up to $500,000 in performance bonuses. Since it’s a split contract, the Mets won’t need to clear a 40-man roster spot for him.
Madrigal, 27, has played second and third base during his five-year MLB career, excelling defensively but struggling at the plate. He hit just .221 with a 54 OPS+ in 94 plate appearances over 51 games last season. However, his defense stood out, ranking in the 96th percentile with nine outs above average in 2023.
Madrigal was the fourth overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft by the White Sox. He impressed early, posting a .764 OPS over his first 83 games before a hamstring injury ended his 2021 season. Chicago traded him to the Cubs for Craig Kimbrel, but he struggled in three seasons there, hitting .251 with a .616 OPS. His 2023 season was cut short due to a broken hand suffered in Triple-A.
Now, he looks for a fresh start with the Mets.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].