Free agent Choi Ji-man joins New York Mets

Baseball

Published: 18 Feb. 2024, 12:46 Updated: 18 Feb. 2024, 16:21

Free agent Choi Ji-man joins New York Mets

Choi Ji-man, then of the Pittsburgh Pirates, celebrates after hitting a home run during the second inning of a game against the San Diego Padres on July 26, 2023, in San Diego. [AP/YONHAP]

Free agent infielder Choi Ji-man has joined the New York Mets, his agency G-Man Sports Management said Saturday.

According to reports, the Mets signed Choi on a one-year split contract that will see him earn different rates for time spent in the majors and the minors. The max Choi could earn is $3.5 million. The 32-year-old received an invitation to spring training.

Choi, now entering potentially his ninth season in the big leagues, spent an injury-stricken 2023 season split between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the San Diego Padres. He appeared in 39 games, batting .163 with six homers and 13 RBIs.

Choi, a big league veteran, spent the three and a half seasons before moving to Pittsburgh playing with the Tampa Bay Rays in Florida. He was traded to the Pirates in November 2022, marking his fifth major league club after earlier spells with the Milwaukee Brewers, New York Yankees and Los Angeles Angels.

He was traded to the Padres in August last year, his sixth big league club.

Once a versatile utility man, Choi, now 32, tends to play at either first base or as a designated hitter, relying more on his slugging prowess than his defensive abilities. His best chance of making the Opening Day roster with the Mets will be as designated hitter or, perhaps more likely, as a left-hitting pinch hitter, but he will have to earn it during spring training.

Over seven seasons in the MLB, Choi has a career .234 batting average with 67 home runs and 238 RBIs in 525 games, making him one of the most prolific Korean hitters ever to play in the majors.

A popular figure in the dugout, Choi earned a reputation while with the Rays as the most fun player on the field. Always with a smile on his face, Choi keeps his teammates entertained when he’s not swinging the bat and is often the camera’s go-to man for a reaction following a good play.

According to reports, Choi received multiple offers from Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball League — and although his agency made no mention of it, he was likely on the radar of a number of KBO teams too — but opted to stay in the big leagues.

He also received an offer to stay at the Padres and offers from the Chicago White Sox, Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays and Texas Rangers. Based on the offer he accepted from the Mets, it’s likely they were all Minor League deals.

If Choi does make it to Opening Day, he will find himself up against his old side the Brewers at Citi Field in New York on March 28.

BY JIM BULLEY [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]