Mets Sign Former Angels First Baseman

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Former Los Angeles Angels infielder Ji-Man Choi agreed to a one-year split contract with the New York Mets worth $3.5 million. The contract includes an invitation to the team’s major league spring training camp.

The left-handed hitter appeared in 39 games for the San Diego Padres and Pittsburgh Pirates, slashing .163/.239/.385 with six home runs and 13 RBIs.

Choi struggled with injuries last season, and his production was nowhere close to what he did with the Tampa Bay Rays over four and a half seasons. There, he had a .245/.352/.431 slash line in more than 1,500 plate appearances.

The left-handed hitter made his major league debut with the Angels in 2016 and played for the New York Yankees in 2017. He landed with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2018. He was traded to the Rays later in ’18 and made a name for himself there.

His best season was 2019, when he batted .261/.363/.459 with 19 home runs.

Choi’s career batting average is .234, and has appeared in 525 games. Among South Korean born position players, only Shin-Soo Choo has appeared in more.