He's not a star, but the Mets pick up a nice piece for their bench.
Not content to sit idly by while every other team improves their roster at the winter meetings in San Diego, the Mets have sprung up off the bench to sign free agent outfielder John Mayberry Jr. to a one-year deal worth $1.45 million
Mayberry, who had spent his entire career with the Phillies until a midseason trade sent him to the Blue Jays last season, will give the Mets a right-handed bat off the bench. Further, he can be a starting corner outfield option against left-handed pitchers, allowing the defensively inept Michael Cuddyer to play first base while Lucas Duda gets a day off.
Mayberry will turn 31 in a couple of weeks and was non-tendered by the Blue Jays. he made $1.5 million last year and stood to make a raise from that figure despite hitting just .212/.310/.425 last year. He's a career .241 hitter, but he can draw a walk and hits for plenty of power. He's nearly useless against right-handed pitchers—224/.293/.365 in his career—but he mashes lefties, hitting .269/.324/.533 against them as a big leaguer.
Mayberry isn't a star by any stretch, but as a pinch-hitter and occasional starter against lefties he can definitely bring some value to the Mets' bench.