Mets sign catcher Raywilly Gomez to minor league deal

The Mets have signed 26-year-old catcher Raywilly Gomez to a minor league deal with an invitation to major league spring training. Gomez spent all of 2015 with the Arkansas Travelers, the Los Angeles Angels' Double-A affiliate, where he hit .291/.385/.336 with one home run and 20 RBI in 284 plate appearances.

Born in New York City, Gomez started his career in the Diamondbacks' system in 2007 and spent several years there before a brief stop in the Phillies' organization in 2014. He has never advanced past Double-A, owning a .287 career batting average in eight minor league seasons, playing most of his games at catcher and a considerable chunk at third base.

Gomez joins Nevin Ashley as the second minor league catcher to sign with the Mets and receive an invitation to camp in the last few weeks. Both will provide depth in spring training behind presumable big league catchers Travis d'Arnaud and Kevin Plawecki, as well as Johnny Monell, who in December was designated for assignment and outrighted to Triple-A Las Vegas.