The New York Mets have acquired 26-year old righty swinging 2B/SS Chin-lung Hu from the Dodgers for 25-year old lefty starting pitcher Matt Antonini. Hu played in 14 games for the Dodgers last season and he was 3 of 23 (.130 avg, .334 OPS) with 2 runs scored, 1 RBI and 1 stolen base. Hu has now played in 96 games in his first four years in the majors and he is 33 of 173 (.191 avg, .524 OPS) with 25 runs scored, 2 homers, 17 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. Hu also played in 58 games in AAA-ball last year for the Dodgers and he was 66 of 208 (.317 avg, .777 OPS) with 37 runs scored, 4 homers, 25 RBIs and 8 stolen bases. Hu will join the fray this spring and he will get a chance to win the starting 2B job for the Mets and he was once considered a top prospect so don’t be surprised if he wins the job. Matt Antonini pitched in 29 games (all starts) in AA+AAA-ball last season and he was 8-12 with a 4.49 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP. The price was right to take a chance on Hu because the price was right.

The Mets have selected 24-year old righty reliever Pedro Beato away from the Baltimore Orioles in the Rule 5 Draft. Beato pitched in 43 games (0 starts) in AA-ball last season and he was 4-0 with 16 saves, a 2.11 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP. Beato has now pitched in 131 games (83 starts) in his five years in the minors and he is 24-30 with 16 saves, a 4.21 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP. Beato looked good as a reliever last season and he will have a shot to win a job in the Mets’ bullpen next spring.

The Mets have selected 24-year old righty swinging 2B/3B Brad Emaus away from the Blue Jays in the Rule 5 Draft. Emaus was the Blue Jays’ #25 prospect heading into last season according to Baseball America. Emaus played in 125 games in AA+AAA-ball last season and he was 129 of 445 (.290 avg, .874 OPS) with 79 runs scored, 15 homers, 75 RBIs and 13 stolen bases. He has now played in 425 games in his first four years in the minors and he is 431 of 1,559 (.276 avg, .790 OPS) with 254 runs scored, 39 homers, 227 RBIs and 37 stolen bases. Emaus might get to compete for the starting 2B job next spring for the Mets. More likely though, he will get a chance to win a job on the bench.

The Mets have signed 29-year old righty reliever/starter Boof Bonser to a minor league deal. Bonser pitched in 15 games (0 starts) for the Red Sox & A’s last season and he was 1-0 with a 6.12 ERA and a 1.64 WHIP. He has now pitched in 111 games (60 starts) in his first four years in the majors and he is 19-25 with a 5.18 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP. Bonser is a talented pitcher who has never lived up to his ability, so I like this low risk signing for the Mets.

The Mets have signed 29-year old righty swinging catcher Ronny Paulino to a 1-year deal worth $1.3 million bucks + incentives. Paulino played in 91 games for the Marlins last season and he was 82 of 316 (.259 avg, .665 OPS) with 31 runs scored, 4 homers and 37 RBIs. He has now played in 475 games in his first six years in the majors and he is 431 of 1,576 (.273 avg, .711 OPS) with 157 runs scored, 31 homers and 192 RBIs. Paulino still has some games to serve on a 50-game suspension he received last August for testing positive for PEDs. Still, I like this signing for the Mets as Paulino will team with lefty swinging Josh Thole to give the Mets a decent combo behind the plate.