The 40-year old is heading to the Mets after being released by the Phillies.
The New York Mets have signed outfielder Bobby Abreu to a minor league deal, according to a team announcement. Abreu, who was released by the Phillies last week, will start with Triple-A Las Vegas.
Abreu, who last appeared in the majors with the Dodgers in 2012, hit .244 with 2 RBI in 17 games with the Phillies during spring training. The 40-year old is looking to make a comeback after taking last season off, and almost signed with the Mets over the winter before deciding to head back to the Phillies for a chance to break back into the majors with his original team.
With a strong performance at Triple-A, Abreu could join the Mets as a backup behind starters Curtis Granderson, Juan Lagares and Chris Young at the major league level. New York is a bit weak in terms of outfield depth, with Eric Young Jr. and Andrew Brown currently filling in the bench spots behind the starting three. It is currently unclear if his deal includes opt-out dates or not, but he could parlay a strong Triple-A performance into a major league opportunity elsewhere.
In seventeen major league seasons, Abreu is a lifetime .292 hitter with 287 HR and 1349 RBI. He is a two-time All-Star who has finished within the top 30 in MVP voting on seven occasions.