Mets add former MLB steals leader Mallex Smith
The New York Mets signed 11 players to minor-league contracts Wednesday, including 2019 stolen base leader Mallex Smith, according to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com.
The full list of minor league deals. Most were in the organization.
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) November 4, 2020
-C Bruce Maxwell
-C David Rodríguez
-OF Mallex Smith
-OF Johneshwy Fargas
-INF Jake Hager
-INF José Peraza<br>-INF Luis Carpio
-INF Mitchell Tolman
-RHP Arodys Vizcaínor>-RHP Harol González
-RHP Oscar De La Cruz
Smith swiped 46 bags in 2019 while playing for the Seattle Mariners and 40 in 2018 as a member of the Tampa Bay Rays. The 27-year-old suited up in 14 games for the Mariners in 2020 but accrued a miserable .348 OPS with two stolen bases.
Among the Mets' other additions, Jose Peraza owns a .270/.310/.372 career slash line over six seasons in the majors. The infielder's best campaign came in 2018 when he hit 14 home runs with 23 stolen bases for the Cincinnati Reds.
Arodys Vizcaino is another intriguing addition. The right-handed reliever owns a career 3.01 ERA with a 10.1 K/9 and 50 saves over seven years. He last pitched in 2019 for the Atlanta Braves, but his season ended after only four innings due to shoulder surgery.