The Mets have signed outfielder Ben Gamel to a minor league contract with an invite to big league spring training, the team announced Monday.
Gamel, 31, spent last season in the Tampa Bay Rays' and San Diego Padres' systems. He appeared in 77 games at Triple-A where he batted .286 with a .900 OPS, hitting 13 home runs, 17 doubles and collecting 44 RBI.
The eight-year MLB veteran appeared in six games for the Padres' last campaign, collecting three hits in 15 at-bats with a double and two RBI.
On defense, Gamel has spent the majority of his time at the corner outfield positions, making 280 starts in left field and 150 in right. He has also made 40 starts in center and five at first base.
Gamel played 237 games in 2021 and 2022 for Cleveland and Pittsburgh and hit 17 home runs with 72 RBI while slashing .239/.335/.378 for a .713 OPS for a smidge below average 98 OPS+.
However, the left-handed swinger did strike out 203 times during that span, accounting for 24.7 percent of his plate appearances.
In 685 career games at the MLB level, he has a .252 average with a .716 OPS (96 OPS+).
Gamel was a 10th-round draft pick by the Yankees in 2010 but never appeared in pinstripes. New York dealt him to Seattle in 2016 for a pair of prospects who also never appeared for the Yanks.