The Minnesota Twins have traded infielder Vidal Bruján to the New York Mets in exchange for cash.
Bruján was designated for assignment by the Twins the previous day, following their acquisition of utility player Tristan Gray from the Boston Red Sox. The Twins reportedly favor Gray as a depth infielder, partly due to roster flexibility, as Gray retains minor league options while Bruján does not.
This marks Bruján's second move this offseason. He concluded last season with the Atlanta Braves, was designated for assignment, and then claimed off waivers by the Twins.
The Mets' acquisition of Bruján helps to replenish their infield depth, which was reduced after trading Luisangel Acuña to the Chicago White Sox. However, Bruján's spot on the Mets' roster is not guaranteed.
Bruján, a switch-hitter, was previously considered a top prospect within the Tampa Bay system. His offensive performance at higher levels has been limited, with a career batting line of .199/.267/.276 over parts of five major league seasons. He exhibits decent plate discipline and contact skills but has rarely achieved hard contact, accumulating five home runs in 645 career plate appearances.
Defensively, Bruján has experience at shortstop but is considered better suited for second base or the outfield. While he was once a fast runner, his sprint speed was rated slightly below-average last year by Statcast.
Eligible for arbitration, Bruján had agreed to a split contract with Atlanta in November, stipulating an $850,000 salary for major league play and a $500,000 rate when in the minors. As he is out of minor league options, he cannot be sent to the minor leagues without first clearing waivers. The Mets are expected to attempt to pass him through waivers before Opening Day, hoping he remains with the organization in a non-roster capacity, given his incentive not to reject a higher-than-average Triple-A salary.