Mets add Brian Bixler on a Minor League Deal

According to their official twitter, the Mets have added super-utility player Brian Bixler on a minor league deal. He was also extended an invitation to Spring Training, but will not be added to the 40-man roster. Bixler has spent time in the Pirates, Indians, Nationals and Astros organizations, and for his career he has posted a .189/.249/.269 over 356 plate appearances since 2008 while playing every position other than catcher.

The Mets have lately made a habit of employing this type of super-utility player in AAA, most recently with Matt Tuiasosopo and Buddy Bubba Bell. Despite the invitation to Spring Training, Bixler is unlikely to make the Opening Day roster, or even really see much time with the big club at all. However, the thirty-year-old Bixler has been a pretty good organizational soldier for a number of years, hitting .279/.356/.401 across six seasons in AAA. These types of signings aren't particularly sexy, but given that many of the better upper level Mets prospects have been playing multiple positions lately (Jefry Marte and Wilmer Flores come to mind), Bixler will give the Vegas squad some needed flexibility in their day-to-day defensive line-ups.