Mets signing RHP Yacksel Rios to minor league deal with spring training invite
The Mets are signing right-handed pitcher Yacksel Rios to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.
Rios, 30, has bounced around big league baseball for the last few years appearing at the MLB level for Pittsburgh, Seattle, Boston and Oakland over the last three years. He had his most sustained stint with Philadelphia beginning in 2017 until he was claimed off waivers by the Pirates in August of 2019.
However, the career reliever has yet to find sustained success and spent 2022 and most of 2023 at the Triple-A level in the White Sox and Braves systems. He did make three appearances with the A's a year ago before needing season-ending shoulder surgery.
In 1.2 innings at Oakland, Rios allowed seven runs on three hits (one home run) with six walks and two wild pitches. He faced 14 batters.
The righty used a two-pitch pitcher last season with the A's, throwing his 4-seam fastball (averaging at 96.5 mph) 67.7 percent of the time with a slider (86.6 mph).
Representing Puerto Rico at the 2023 World Baseball Classic, he struck out five in 3.2 innings over four scoreless appearances while allowing just two hits.
In 26 games over the 2020 and 2021 seasons, Rios had a 4.88 ERA (4.77 FIP) over 31.1 innings at the majors. He allowed 17 runs on 21 hits with 26 strikeouts to 18 walks for a 1.245 WHIP.
Rios fared batter at Triple-A Gwinnett last year pitching to a 2.49 ERA over 25.1 innings in 22 appearances, with seven saves. He allowed nine runs (seven earned) on 14 hits with 30 strikeouts to eight walks (with four wild pitches) in 99 batters faced.
