Former Mets Shortstop Signs with Rays

Amed Rosario, formerly a top prospect for the Mets, has found a new home in Tampa Bay.

A former shortstop for the New York Mets has a new team.

Amed Rosario, who was once a highly touted prospect for the Mets, will be playing for his third different team in the span of two years after signing a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Tampa Bay Rays. The signing was reported by Jeff Passan of ESPN.

Infielder Amed Rosario and the Tampa Bay Rays are in agreement on a one-year, $1.5 million contract, sources tell ESPN. Rosario, 28, will bring a strong bat against left-handed pitching and should get at-bats at shortstop, second base and potentially corner-outfield spots.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) February 20, 2024

The now 28-year-old Rosario played four seasons and 403 games in a Mets uniform, slashing .268/.302/.403 with 115 extra-base hits and 50 stolen bases. His best season was 2019, when he hit .287/.323/.432 with a career-high 30 doubles and 15 home runs, while posting a 3.0 bWAR and 2.0 fWAR. Nonetheless, he was considered a disappointment for the Mets due to his hype as a prospect and inconsistency both at the plate and in the field.

On January 7, 2021, Rosario was traded alongside fellow shortstop Andrés Giménez to the Cleveland Indians (now Guardians) in the blockbuster deal for Francisco Lindor and Carlos Carrasco. He would spend two-and-a-half seasons in Cleveland before being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers for former Mets teammate Noah Syndergaard at the 2023 trade deadline.

Passan mentioned that Rosario could be used as a shortstop, second baseman, or outfielder for the Rays. Despite this, Rosario has struggled defensively at shortstop throughout his entire career; with the Mets, he combined for -20 defensive runs saved and had a negative DRS in all four of his seasons with them. 2023 was even worse with -16 DRS in his time with both the Guardians and Dodgers, making him one of the worst defensive shortstops in baseball. However, Rosario primarily was a second baseman for the Dodgers and looked far more comfortable there, with 3 DRS.

Rosario is additionally a much better hitter against lefties than he is against righties; he has a .298/.339/.467 career slash line against southpaws, as opposed to his .263/.296/.374 line against right-handers.

Although Rosario's Mets tenure didn't work out, the Rays are hoping he can become a dependable asset, as they aim to address their recent shortstop woes.