ATLANTA — The Mets’ best free-agent deal of last offseason might have been the one-year contract worth $3.55 million they gave Jonathan Villar.
Signed to provide versatility and a switch-hitting presence off the bench, the veteran infielder settled in at third base, and barely left, following J.D. Davis’ hand injury early in the season. On Saturday night, he appeared in his 141st game of the season and brought a .251/.323/.421 slash line with 18 homers and 42 RBIs into play.
“I think he’s done a little more than maybe we expected, just because we thought he was going to be that guy coming in playing three or four games in a week,” manager Luis Rojas said before the Mets faced the Braves at Truist Park. “Now he put himself on the radar to play six out of the seven or be an everyday player, so he’s done more because of that.”
The Mets could attempt to re-sign the 30-year-old Villar for infield depth next season, but they also have Robinson Cano set to return from his 162-game PED suspension. It’s unclear whether the Mets will attempt to re-sign Javier Baez to play in the infield.
Jonathan Villar APDavis and Jeff McNeil are two other infield options under club control for next season.
Robert Gsellman was activated from the injured list and was available from the bullpen. To clear roster space, Tylor Megill was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse and Brandon Drury was designated for assignment. The right-hander Gsellman had been sidelined since June with a torn right lat.
Noah Syndergaard is scheduled to pitch one inning as the opener Sunday in the Mets’ season finale. It will be the second appearance for Syndergaard since his return from Tommy John surgery rehab last week. Syndergaard pitched a perfect inning — throwing 10 pitches — against the Marlins on Tuesday in the nightcap of a doubleheader.
The Mets have used 64 players through 161 games this season. The major league record for players used in a season is 67, by the 2019 Mariners. The 19 pitchers the Mets have used to start a game this season is one short of the franchise record set in 1967.
