Mets Sign Matt Clark

Despite the fact the Mets already have a glut of first basemen, they signed another one: Matt Clark.

What do you mean, you never heard of Matt Clark? The strapping, lefthanded-hitting slugger posted a career .853 OPS in five minor-league seasons, highlighted by a 28-HR, 97-RBI year in AA in 2010 and a .872 OPS in the PCL as recently as 2012. Unfortunately for Clark, he was property of the San Diego Padres through 2012, and thus blocked by the likes of Jesus Guzman and Yonder Alonso (ironically, though, he was able to move ahead of current Mets property Allen Dykstra on the Padres’ organization depth chart). So, he left for the Far East, and last year, was Big In Japan, hitting 25 homers for the Chunichi Dragons.

Almost simultaneously to the announcement of this signing, Mets manager Terry Collins told SNY TV viewers that Ike Davis would get “maybe 80 to 100 at-bats” in spring training. If Davis will get that many reps, I’m not sure how all the other players competing for a 1B role will get at-bats.

For what it’s worth, several outlets are reporting that Matt Clark is a “first baseman / outfielder.” From what I’ve heard about Clark’s footwork and level of athleticism, he’s likely as much an “outfielder” as Lucas Duda. Further, Clark has played all of 76 minor-league games in the outfield, and only one since 2011.