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Former Mets and Rays outfielder Jose Siri signed a deal with the Angels.
The Los Angeles Angels signed outfielder Jose Siri to a minor league contract on Sunday, league sources confirmed to The Athletic’s Will Sammon. The deal includes an invitation to big league spring camp and provides Siri with multiple escape routes if he doesn’t crack the Opening Day roster. The toolsy outfielder most recently had an injury-plagued season with the New York Mets, but he flashed across a few years with the Tampa Bay Rays.
Former New York Mets and Tampa Bay Rays’ Outfielder Jose Siri Signs with Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Siri will earn $1.6 million if he makes the Angels’ 26-man roster, according to the New York Post’s Jon Heyman. The contract includes opt-out clauses at the end of Spring Training and on June 1, giving the 30-year-old center fielder flexibility to explore other opportunities if Los Angeles keeps him in the minors.
Outfielder Jose Siri and the Los Angeles Angels are in agreement on a minor-league deal, league sources tell The Athletic.
The signing is a low-risk gamble on a player whose 2025 season unraveled in brutal fashion. Siri fouled a ball off his left leg in April while with the New York Mets, fracturing his left tibia and derailing what was supposed to be a defensive-first acquisition, according to MLB Trade Rumors.
When he finally got back on the field, Siri managed just 16 games in a Mets uniform. His .292 OPS and .063/.167/.125 slash line offered little evidence he was ready to contribute.
The Mets designated Siri for assignment in September and released him on Oct. 1, ending one of the more disappointing acquisitions of David Stearns’ first offseason as president of baseball operations.
Jose Siri has Flashed as Elite Defender
New York acquired Siri from the Tampa Bay Rays in Nov. 2025, sending reliever Eric Orze to Tampa Bay in a one-for-one swap. The move was designed to bolster the Mets’ center field defense after rotating between Tyrone Taylor and Harrison Bader throughout 2024.
Siri entered 2025 with legitimate defensive credentials. He tied for second in baseball among center fielders with 16 Outs Above Average in 2024, trailing only Colorado’s Brenton Doyle. Over three seasons with the Rays from 2022 through 2024, Siri established himself as one of the game’s premier defensive outfielders despite chronic struggles making contact at the plate.
His 2024 season with Tampa Bay showcased both sides of his profile. Siri slashed .187/.255/.366 with 18 home runs across 130 games, combining elite defense with an alarming strikeout rate. In 2023, he mashed 25 home runs but hit just .222 with a 35.7% strikeout rate.
The Mets gambled they could live with the offensive limitations in exchange for his glove. The tibia fracture in April rendered that calculation moot.
Angels Provide Fresh Start With Safety Net
Los Angeles enters 2026 searching for outfield depth behind Mike Trout and company. Trout, entering his age-34 season, has played more than 119 games just twice since 2020 due to various injuries. The Angels lack established center field options beyond Adell, who logged 89 games at the position in 2025.
Siri’s path to the roster requires proving his leg has fully healed and showing he can make enough contact to justify carrying his glove. At 30 years old with over 900 career plate appearances, he’s unlikely to suddenly fix his plate discipline issues. But if healthy, his defense alone could earn him a bench role.
Justin Carlucci brings 13+ years of journalism experience to Heavy. A veteran of multiple industry-leading companies, he has hosted SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio shows and contributed to the New York Post, combining traditional sports and news reporting with expertise in sports betting and fantasy sports. More about Justin Carlucci
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