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Mets Sign Taijeron, Escalera to Minor League Contracts

By Jacob Resnick

February 11, 2019 No comments

The New York Mets signed a pair of minor league free agent outfielders on Monday, bringing back Travis Taijeron and welcoming Alfredo Escalera to the organization.

Taijeron, 30, was originally an 18th-round draft choice of the Mets in 2011. He reached Triple-A Las Vegas in 2015 and stalled out there, taking 1,301 at-bats for the 51s across three seasons. The Mets promoted Taijeron to the major leagues in August of 2017 and awarded him 59 plate appearances. He hit his first home run — after rounding the bases 135 times in the minors — on September 8 against the Cincinnati Reds.

Taijeron was picked up by the Dodgers less than a month after the Mets cut him loose on November 6, 2017. He spent all of last season with Triple-A Oklahoma City, where he hit .271/.352/.468 with 11 home runs. Taijeron appears ticketed for Triple-A Syracuse where he’ll serve as major league depth.

Escalera, 23, was the Kansas City Royals’ eighth-round pick in 2012 out of high school in Florida. He traversed five levels of the minors, stalling out in Double-A before reaching free agency this past November. In seven seasons, Escalera has hit .259/.310/.364 with 37 home runs. He’ll likely be organizational depth at High- or Double-A.

The Mets have now officially signed 19 minor league free agents, one non-drafted free agent, and five international free agents since Brodie Van Wagenen took over in October. Additionally, three minor leaguers were selected in the Rule 5 Draft and two minor leaguers were acquired in trades.