Tim Locastro’s next stop in his baseball career is a quick ride across town, as the Mets have signed the speedy outfielder to a minor-league deal with an invite to spring training according to multiple reports.
Locastro, 30, was with the Yankees last season, where he hit .186 in 38 MLB games and .240 in 47 games at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre.
Over parts of six MLB seasons with the Dodgers, Diamondbacks, and Yankees, Locastro has slashed just .227/.325/.331, but his calling card is speed and defense; he is capable of playing all three outfield positions, and his sprint speed was in the 99th percentile last season after being in the 100th percentile each season from 2019-2021.
He was also a key pinch-runner for the Yankees late in the season and in the postseason as well, stealing one base in the ALDS against Cleveland.
The Mets have a strong starting outfield of Brandon Nimmo, Starling Marte, and Mark Canha, but Khalil Lee is the only other outfielder on the 40-man roster. The team did sign Abraham Almonte to a minor-league deal in December, so Locastro now gives them two outfielders with MLB experience heading to camp as potential options to be the Mets’ fourth outfielder, a role filled by Tyler Naquin down the stretch.
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