2021 New York Mets: Jonathan Villar is Headed to Queens

According to Jon Heyman of MLB Network, Mets and veteran infielder Jonathan Villar have reached an agreement on a big-league deal worth $3.55 million, plus incentives.

Villar is one of the more underrated utility players in the game, and figured to find a starting role somewhere this offseason.

Heyman notes that it is expected the 29-year old will fill a super-utility role in Queens. Throughout his eight-year big league career, Villar has experience playing second, shortstop, third base, and both center and left field.

Villar figures to bounce around the diamond and see all kinds of playing time in Queens. This is just another quality depth signing for the 2021 NY Mets, who have been killing it in that department this offseason.

What Villar Brings to the 2021 New York Mets 

Villar struggled last season in 52 games between the Miami Marlins and Toronto Blue Jays, hitting just .232 with a .593 OPS and 16 stolen bases. For the first time in his career, he finished the season with a negative WAR (-0.8).

In his last full season in 2019, however, Villar played all 162 games with the Baltimore Orioles and hit .274 with a .792 OPS, 40 stolen bases, and a career-high 24 home runs. He also recorded 109 wRC+, accounted for a 4.1 fWAR, 3.9 WAR, and scored 111 runs for a bad Orioles team in that span.

Villar is a potential low-risk, high-reward signing for the 2021 New York Mets. If he can regain his 2019 form at the plate, this will be an absolute steal. The veteran already brings a ton of speed and as noted above some defensive versatility to this ball-club.

As currently constructed, the Mets bench now figures to consist of Villar, Luis Guillorme, Albert Almora, Tomas Nido, and Jose Martinez. 

Keep it peeled to OTH for the latest 2021 New York Mets and MLB Breaking News as we draw closer and closer to Spring Training.

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