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April 20, 2009 Latest Post Joe Janish

Mets Sign Wily Mo Pena

The Mets have signed enigmatic slugger Wily Mo Pena to a minor league deal.

Pena hit only .205 with 2 homers in 195 ABs last year with the Washington Nationals. However, he suffered from a strained oblique and shoulder issues last season. After undergoing rotator cuff surgery for his right shoulder last year, Pena this year reported discomfort in his left shoulder.

If healthy, the 27-year-old Wily Mo would have the most pure power in the Mets’ minor league system, and is at an age when players generally begin to peak. It’s a no-risk, high-reward signing for the Mets, who can use some righthanded power hitters.

Pena has never been able to recapture the magic of 2004, when he hit 26 HRs in 364 at-bats — a time when players didn’t have to worry about taking drug tests.

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Joe Janish began MetsToday in 2005 to provide the unique perspective of a high-level player and coach -- he earned NCAA D-1 All-American honors as a catcher and coached several players who went on to play pro ball. As a result his posts often include mechanical evaluations, scout-like analysis, and opinions that go beyond the numbers. Follow Joe's baseball tips on Twitter at @onbaseball and at the On Baseball Google Plus page.
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  1. sincekindergarten April 21, 2009 at 4:33 am
    From what I’ve heard, and from what I’ve seen of him (very limited), he can hit the ball a ton. Seems to be a low-risk, high-possible-reward type of signing.
  2. isuzudude April 21, 2009 at 9:21 am
    The very poor man’s Andruw Jones, but without the gold gloves and starting experience. The Mets had their chance on Jones but let the ship sail and are now trying to make up for their mistakes with the likes of Sheffield and Pena. Too little, too late if you ask me.
  3. Heals April 21, 2009 at 12:03 pm
    Wow…taking a page out of the Jim Bowden handbook…is Austin Kearns next?

    Ryan Church, your days are numbered…