New York Mets sign outfielder MJ Melendez to a 1-year contract

By: Mike Fitzpatrick, The Associated Press Posted: 7:44 PM CST Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026 Last Modified: 7:56 PM CST Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026

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NEW YORK (AP) — MJ Melendez and the New York Mets agreed Thursday to a one-year contract, adding depth to an outfield thinned by offseason trades.

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NEW YORK (AP) — MJ Melendez and the New York Mets agreed Thursday to a one-year contract, adding depth to an outfield thinned by offseason trades.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 12/02/2026 (235 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

NEW YORK (AP) — MJ Melendez and the New York Mets agreed Thursday to a one-year contract, adding depth to an outfield thinned by offseason trades.

He gets a $1.5 million salary while in the major leagues and $425,000 while in the minors.

The 27-year-old Melendez, once a touted prospect with Kansas City, spent most of last season in the minors. He batted .083 (5 for 60) with one home run and two doubles for the Royals.

FILE - Kansas City Royals' MJ Melendez jogs to first base during the second inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash,File)

Melendez is a .215 career hitter with 52 homers, 163 RBIs and a .685 OPS in 435 major league games over four seasons with the Royals. He would have been eligible for arbitration this winter but Kansas City declined to offer him a contract in November, making him a free agent.

A left-handed hitter, Melendez came up as a catcher and corner outfielder in 2022 before moving exclusively to the outfield in 2024 — plus his second of two career appearances at first base.

He can play both corner spots, which makes him a potential fit for the Mets after they traded Brandon Nimmo to Texas and Jeff McNeil to the Athletics this offseason. Former right fielder Starling Marte became a free agent at age 37.

Star slugger Juan Soto is moving from right field to left, and Tyrone Taylor is an excellent defender who projects as a fourth outfielder. Top prospect Carson Benge, drafted in the first round from Oklahoma State in 2024, will get an opportunity to make the team in right — but he has only 24 games of Triple-A experience.

Luis Robert Jr. was acquired in a trade with the Chicago White Sox to play center.

Melendez batted .261 with 20 homers, 64 RBIs, 20 steals and an .813 OPS in 107 games at Triple-A Omaha last year.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb