Just because the Mets were burned by Trevor Bauer in his dramatic free agency sweepstakes — the Dodgers ultimately landed the 2020 NL Cy Young winner — doesn't mean that they're done making moves.
According to RADIO.COM Sports MLB insider Jon Heyman, Jonathan Villar has agreed to a deal with the Mets worth $3.55 million, plus incentives.
Previous reports seemed to indicate that the Cincinnati Reds were looking to land Villar, though that deal never came to fruition.
Villar struggled in the shortened 60-game 2020 season, splitting time between the Marlins and Blue Jays and slashing .232/.301/.292. His speed, as usual, was on display as he finished second in MLB with 16 stolen bases. However, the pop that he had flashed in previous seasons was all but gone, as he hit only two home runs and seven extra-base hits all in all.
In 2019, however, Villar flashed his power for the Orioles with 24 home runs to go along with 40 steals, making him the only 20-40 player in all of baseball that season.
His contract is reflective of the down year he had, considering he made $8.2 million in 2020 and is making nearly $5 million less on the Mets (via Spotrac). He'll likely fill a super utility role, as Heyman mentioned, filling in behind Francisco Lindor, Jeff McNeil and other infielders. He's played more than 750 of his career games as a middle infielder, though he did play at third and in the outfield early on.
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