Major League Baseball

Mesoraco stays with Mets, agrees to minor league contract

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 11:35 p.m. ET

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NEW YORK (AP) — Catcher Devin Mesoraco is staying with the New York Mets, agreeing to a minor league contract.

If added to the 40-man roster, the 30-year-old would get a one-year contract paying at a rate of $1.75 million while in the major leagues. He would have a chance to earn $250,000 in performance bonuses based on games.

New York said Thursday that Mesoraco will report to major league spring training.

He gives New York another catching option behind starter Wilson Ramos. Mesoraco figures to compete for a backup job with Travis d'Arnaud and Tomas Nido, who are on the 40-man roster.

Mesoraco was acquired by New York from Cincinnati on May 8 in the deal that sent former ace Matt Harvey to the Reds. Mesoraco hit .221 last season with 11 homers and 33 RBIs in 229 plate appearances.

He was selected the by Reds with the 15th overall pick in the 2007 amateur draft. Mesoraco's best season was 2014, when he set career bests with 25 homers and 80 RBIs, earning his only All-Star selection. He had a $13 million salary in 2018, the final season on a $28 million, four-year deal.

Mesoraco attended Punxsutawney High School in Pennsylvania, in the city of the famed groundhog Punxsutawney Phil.

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