The Atlanta Braves signed free-agent infielder Joey Wendle to a major-league contract on Friday and optioned infielder Luke Williams to Triple-A Gwinnett in a corresponding move. Wendle has landed with another team quickly after he was released by the Mets earlier this week after going 8-for-36 (.222) with no home runs, one RBI and three runs scored in limited playing time as a utility infielder. The former sixth-round pick in 2012 out of West Chester by the Cleveland Guardians has not been able to replicate his All-Star campaign in 2021 with the Tampa Bay Rays, when he hit .265/.319/.422 with 11 home runs, 54 RBI and eight stolen bases in 136 games played. Since then, he's hit .237/.273/.331 with five homers, 53 RBI and 20 steals in 231 games and will find playing time even more difficult to come by, although he could immediately see action at third base if Austin Riley (intercostal) lands on the injured list.
The New York Mets released infielder Joey Wendle on Monday after he was designated for assignment last week. Wendle is now free to sign with any team in baseball to provide some veteran infield depth. The 34-year-old was cut by the Mets after going 8-for-36 (.222) with no home runs and just one RBI in 37 plate appearances over 18 games this year. Wendle was a first-time All-Star in 2021 in his final season with the Tampa Bay Rays, when he hit .265 (122-for-460) with a career-high 11 home runs, 54 RBI and eight stolen bases in 136 games played. Since then, he's hit .237 with five home runs, 53 RBI and 20 teals in 231 games with the Miami Marlins and Mets. Wendle will likely be signed to a minor-league pact if he latches on with another team. Avoid him in all fantasy leagues for now.
New York Mets infielder Joey Wendle (shoulder) is dealing with some right-shoulder soreness in camp, but he's been building back up and should make his spring training debut toward the end of next week. He's in his first year in New York in 2024 after hitting a weak .212/.248/.306 with two homers, 20 RBI, seven stolen bases and 33 runs scored in 318 plate appearances and 112 games for the Miami Marlins in 2023. The 33-year-old's greatest asset is his glove and his ability to play multiple infield positions, but he's not much to look at in fantasy with his bat. Even with Ronny Mauricio (knee) slated to miss the entire season, Wendle will most likely serve as a utility infielder for the Mets. Most of his playing time will likely come at third base to spell youngster Brett Baty.
Free-agent utility infielder Joey Wendle and the New York Mets agreed on a one-year, $2 million deal on Wednesday, pending a physical, according to sources familiar with the deal. Wendle was an All-Star with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2021 before spending the last two years with the Miami Marlins. But he's only a career .263 hitter with 32 home runs in eight big-league seasons, and his worst season came in 2023 when he hit .212/.248/.306 with two home runs, 20 RBI, 16 doubles, seven stolen bases and 33 runs scored in 112 games played for the Fish. The 33-year-old left-handed hitter stands at 6-foot-1 and 195 pounds and will mainly serve the Mets with his glove and defensive versatility for the upcoming 2024 campaign.
Miami Marlins infielder Joey Wendle and catcher Nick Fortes are starting on the bench on Tuesday against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays. Jon Berti is starting at shortstop and batting ninth, while Jacob Stalling is doing the catching and hitting eighth against Rays right-hander Aaron Civale. Wendle has struggled offensive in 2023 in his second year in Miami, slashing .229/.264/.325 with a homer, 16 RBI, five stolen bases and 29 runs scored in 90 games. Fortes, meanwhile, has been even worse. The third-year backstop is batting .213 (53-for-249) with five home runs, seven doubles, 22 RBI, three stolen bases and 27 runs scored in 90 games played.
Miami Marlins outfielder Jesus Sanchez and infielder Joey Wendle are both starting on the bench on Monday with the club facing Houston Astros left-hander Framber Valdez. Avisail Garcia is starting in left field and is batting seventh, while Jon Berti will handle shortstop and hit in the nine-hole on Monday against Valdez. Sanchez is hitting .280 against left-handed hurlers this year, but he's faced them only 27 times in 2023 and will likely continue to sit when the team faces a southpaw. Wendle, meanwhile, is pretty much in the same boat as Sanchez when it comes to facing lefties. The 33-year-old has faced them 25 times this year and has gone 6-for-23 (.261) with no home runs or RBI.
Miami Marlins outfielder Jesus Sanchez and infielder Joey Wendle are both sitting out on Wednesday against the visiting St. Louis Cardinals and left-hander Matthew Liberatore. Jorge Soler is starting in right field and batting second, while Jon Berti will handle shortstop and hit ninth in the batting order against Liberatore. Sanchez is hitting .294 against lefties in 2023, but it's come in a small sample size of only 17 at-bats. He's currently riding a modest five-game hitting streak that has seen him go 7-for-18 (.389) with two homers and eight RBI. Wendle, who also hits from the left side of the plate, is hitting .455 against southpaws, but in only 11 at-bats in 2023. He's gone 11-for-31 (.355) with no homers or RBI in his last eight games played.
Miami Marlins shortstop Joey Wendle (groin) has been out of the lineup for the past three games as he deals with a left adductor issue, according to MLB.com. He was available off the bench on Wednesday, though, so it seems like he'll avoid an injured list stint and return to the lineup soon. Across 33 games this season, Wendle is slashing .239/.302/.386 with one homer, 11 runs, six RBI, and a pair of stolen bases. The 33-year-old's lackluster production makes him irrelevant in almost all fantasy leagues, but when he is back, utility man Jon Berti will likely move back to a part-time role.
Joey Wendle Activated From The 10-Day Injured List
Miami Marlins infielder Joey Wendle was activated from the 10-day injured list on Sunday after missing a month with an oblique issue. The veteran infielder appeared in just four games and didn't record a hit before hitting the injured list in early April. Wendle isn't starting on Sunday against the Cubs but he should be available off the bench. Infielder Xavier Edwards was optioned to Triple-A Jacksonville in a corresponding move. There's not much, if any, fantasy appeal here.
Miami Marlins infielder Joey Wendle (intercostal) went through a full workout on Monday, and according to MLB.com, the plan is for the 32-year-old to begin a rehab assignment in a couple of days. Wendle played in just four games before being shut down with a right intercostal strain and had no hits over nine plate appearances this season. The former Tampa Bay Ray can handle the bat, with a career .270 average, and knows how to run the bases, swiping 12 bags over 101 games in 2022. Wendle won't be a big difference-maker when he returns, but fantasy managers looking for a cheap source of batting average and speed can pick him up when he's back.
