The executive office continues to work behind the scenes to increase roster depth while the New York Mets enjoy a four-game winning run and remain within striking distance of the NL East lead. David Villar, an infielder, was signed by New York on Tuesday to a minor league contract in an underhanded approach that may pay off in the long run.
Villar, who has been assigned by the San Francisco Giants, adds power and variety to the Mets’ infield depth chart. The 28-year-old has spent the most of the last four seasons bouncing between Triple-A and the major leagues, playing at first, second, and third base. Villar had 15 home runs and a.200/.292/.391 slash line in 118 MLB games with San Francisco.
Anthony DiComo of MLB.com announced the deal on X (formerly Twitter).
According to a source, infielder David Villar has agreed to a minor league contract with the Mets. has a lifetime OPS of.859 in the minor leagues and was recently DFA’d by the Giants.
The Mets feature a formidable infield core anchored by Pete Alonso, Jeff McNeil, and Mark Vientos, but Villar offers a low-cost insurance policy. He could also serve as a placeholder in Triple-A if Ronny Mauricio receives a call-up soon, keeping the infield unit at Syracuse stable.
Such actions demonstrate the club’s emphasis on increasing organizational depth as New York attempts to capture its first NL East championship since 2015. The inclusion of Villar is consistent with previous roster activities, like as the participation of Brandon Waddell and Jared Young during the Mets’ successful run in early May.
For a team now 1.5 games behind the Philadelphia Phillies in the division, this is a low-risk, high-reward signing. Villar might be a useful bench player or a replacement starter for the Mets later this summer if he performs well in Triple-A. He is a good contender for a future call-up due to his versatility in positions and prior MLB experience.
