The Athletics have signed former Washington National Joey Meneses to a minor league deal for the 2026 season, adding depth at the corner infield and outfield positions.
Meneses, 33, played parts of three seasons with the Nats from 2022-24, batting .274/.322/.408 with 29 homers and 108 RBIs in 286 games. He spent the 2025 season at Triple-A Syracuse in the New York Mets organization, batting .265 with 11 homers and 55 RBIs in 110 games.
He’s played each of the last 13 winter seasons with the Tomateros de Culiacan, where he’s batted .285/.349/.433 with 57 homers and 356 RBIs in 567 career games, and represented Mexico in five Caribbean Series.
With the A’s, Meneses is likely to be a depth player. His primary position, first base, is occupied by 2025 American League Rookie of the Year Nick Kurtz, and Tyler Soderstrom, Brent Rooker, Lawrence Butler, and JJ Bleday likely have the starting outfield spots in 2026.
Still, Meneses will bring a quality depth bat to the lineup, and if he’s willing to move or space frees up due to trade or injury, he’s likely to see time in West Sacramento next season.
He’s likely to be on Mexico’s roster for the 2026 World Baseball Classic. In 2023, he finished the WBC with a .370 average in six games, having gone 10-for-27 with two homers and six RBIs, helping Mexico to the semifinals where they lost to Japan.
Photo: Mexico’s Joey Meneses celebrates after scoring against Canada on Ryan Téllez’s two-run single during the first inning of a World Baseball Classic game in Phoenix, Wednesday, March 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
