Adam Rubin is reporting via Twitter, that outfielder Jesus Feliciano is returning to the Mets on a minor league deal. He has been a free agent since the Mets removed cleared him through waivers earlier this off-season, so he is not on the 40-man roster.
It’s a little curious of a move, which is probably why it happened so late. The AAA outfield in Buffalo will probably have Lucas Duda, Kirk Nieuwenhuis, and Fernando Martinez getting a bulk of the playing time, since they are all top prospects, so it wouldn’t seem like there’d be a lot of at bats available for Feliciano. Duda will split time at first base, and Martinez is injury prone, but the Bisons are also likely to have Jason Pridie on the roster, as well as Russ Adams, who could see a lot of his playing time coming in the outfield. Still, despite being light on tools, Feliciano knows how to put the ball in play, so eventually he should get regular at bats and be a positive force on the Buffalo roster.
3 comments
Bryan
2/20/2011-10:25am at 10:25 am (UTC -4)
As a side note, this will be the 5th consecutive year that Feliciano will play for the Mets AAA affiliate. In the past four years he has hit .315, .308, .311, and .339. Last year in the big leagues he hit .231 in 54 games in the majors, with 3 doubles, 1 triple, and 3 RBI’s.
stickguy
2/20/2011-11:23am at 11:23 am (UTC -4)
I guess they must have liked him in Buffalo. most likely he will be a very occasional playing OF. But, always a chance they need him in NY again, if one of the CFs on hand goes down.
I wonder if these last man on the AAA roster moves are sometimes made at the request of the AAA franchise? The last man on the bisones bench is of little importance to the bisons, and even less to the Mets. So if there is a guy that is popular with the fans, why not sign him instead of another stiff?
Hessman kept coming back for some reason, and it wasn’t because the Mets were planning on using him!
rustyjr
2/20/2011-11:38am at 11:38 am (UTC -4)
WHOO HOOO It’s the fourth coming of Jesus !!!