MMO Free Agent Profile: Jonathan Villar, INF

Position: SS, 2B, 3B Bats/Throws: S/R Age: 5/2/1991 (30) Traditional Stats: 142 G, .249/.322/.416, .738 OPS, 18 2B, 18 HR, 14 SB Advanced Stats: 1.7 WAR, 2.1 fWAR, 102 OPS+, 9,1 BB%, -3 OAA Rundown Jonathan Villar has spent his nine-year MLB career bouncing around from team to team. He was originally signed by the […]

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Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Position: SS, 2B, 3B
Bats/Throws: S/R
Age: 5/2/1991 (30)

Traditional Stats: 142 G, .249/.322/.416, .738 OPS, 18 2B, 18 HR, 14 SB
Advanced Stats: 1.7 WAR, 2.1 fWAR, 102 OPS+, 9,1 BB%, -3 OAA

Rundown

Jonathan Villar has spent his nine-year MLB career bouncing around from team to team. He was originally signed by the Phillies as an international free agent but never appeared in a game for them at the major-league level.

He was traded to Houston as part of a package for Roy Oswalt, and that’s where he spent his first three years in the Show. Villar never got a shot as a regular with the Astros, appearing in just 198 games over those three years.

He was again traded, this time to Milwaukee, where he became the everyday shortstop. From there, Villar settled in as a regular at the big-league level. He hit 38 doubles, 19 homers, and led the league with 63 stolen bases that season. Villar spent the first half of 2018 with the Brew Crew before he was shipped off to Baltimore at the trade deadline. During that second half, he played under now Mets manager Buck Showalter in what was his final year as the Orioles skipper.

Villar re-signed in Baltimore and appeared in all 162 games during the 2019 season, stealing 40 bases and popping 24 homers. He signed with the Marlins during the following offseason and split the year between them and the Toronto Blue Jays.

The 30-year-old obviously signed with the Mets this past offseason, where he enjoyed another solid campaign. He appeared in 142 games and posted a .322 OBP, .738 OPS, and 102 OPS+ with 18 doubles, 18 home runs, and 14 stolen bases.

The versatile Villar played a huge role for the injury-plagued Mets. Originally signed as more of a bench piece, the infielder played 97 games at third, 26 games at shortstop, and nine games at second base. He went from being one of the original members of the ‘bench mob’ to becoming a key piece in the Mets’ starting lineup. Villar is entering his age-31 season and showed during his last campaign that he still has a little something left in the tank. 

Contract

Last offseason, Villar took a bit of a discount and signed with the Mets on a one-year deal worth just $3.55 million.

This offseason should be a different story, as he’s still just 31 years old and is coming off a solid campaign. Villar should have plenty of suitors when the lockout is over, and could be in line for a multi-year deal. FanGraphs projects he’ll receive a two-year deal in the $12 million range.   

The Mets reportedly showed interest in re-signing the versatile infielder earlier in the offseason. It is still unknown if that interest remains after the addition of infielder Eduardo Escobar on a similar two-year deal.

Recommendation

Jonathan Villar did everything and more for the Mets last season. He gave them incredible value on his one-year deal. Even with the addition of Escobar, I’d love to see him back in orange and blue next season.

I’ve always been a big Jonathan Villar fan. He’s one of those types of players who you know exactly what you’re getting from him. Villar is a spark plug, he gives 110% day in and day out, he’s an absolute gamer, and he does whatever it takes to help his team win ballgames.

As I said, Villar was one of the original members of the bench mob and went on to play a vital role for New York. He is a solid veteran bat off the bench with some speed, defensive versatility, and as we saw last season, he can step right in if/when injuries occur. 

Something else to take into consideration, as I briefly mentioned above, is the fact that Villar has played under Showalter before in Baltimore. Showalter has praised Villar and the way he plays the game in the past when he was a member of the crew at MLB Network.

Villar may be able to find more of an everyday job elsewhere, but if JV1 is looking to return to Flushing after a successful 2021 season, I’d absolutely take him back in a similar role in a heartbeat.

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