Mets sign utility man Kelly to Minor League deal
NEW YORK -- The Mets made their first signing of the offseason on Friday, inking utility man Ty Kelly to a Minor League contract with an invitation to Spring Training.
Kelly, 27, split this year between the Cardinals' and Blue Jays' Triple-A affiliates, batting a combined .226 with three home runs and three stolen bases in 117 games. The previous season, he hit 15 homers in 134 games for Seattle's Triple-A Tacoma affiliate.
Perhaps most notable is Kelly's versatility. He played five positions last year, moving from second to third base and all three outfield spots. The Mets will be the fifth organization for Kelly, a 13th-round Draft pick of the Orioles in 2009. A career .275 hitter with a .379 on-base percentage, Kelly has never reached the Majors.