MLB

Ji-Man Choi signing one-year split contract to give Mets another DH option

PORT ST. LUCIE — The Mets appear to have another entry into their DH mix.

Ji-Man Choi agreed to a one-year split contract with the club worth $3.5 million, Jeeho Yoo of Yonhap News Agency reported, citing the player’s agents as his source.

Choi also updated his Instagram account on Friday to reflect he had joined the Mets.

Ji Man Choi hitting an RBI double in Pirates vs Phillies baseball game in Pittsburgh, wearing yellow uniform with a baseball bat in hand.
Ji-Man Choi is joining the Mets on a one-year split contract. AP

Choi, a left-handed hitter, appeared in 39 games last season for the Pirates and Padres and owned a .163/.239/.385 slash line with six homers and 13 RBIs.

He could compete in spring training with DJ Stewart, a lefty bat vying for playing time at DH.

The Mets have Mark Vientos as a DH option from the right side.

Choi, 32, had his best season with the Rays in 2019, when hit 19 homers and posted an .822 OPS in 127 games.

The previous year Choi — who also played for the Yankees — had a stint in Milwaukee, where David Stearns was heading the front office.

Stearns is now the Mets’ president of baseball operations.