The Mets made waves this week with the headline-grabbing signing of Bo Bichette to play third base, but that wasn’t their only infield move. Quietly, yet intriguingly, New York added another name to their already crowded infield mix-claiming infielder Tsung-Che Cheng off waivers from the Tampa Bay Rays.
Cheng, a 24-year-old Taiwanese prospect, was originally designated for assignment by the Pirates following their acquisition of Brandon Lowe. The Mets had an open slot on their 40-man roster, so bringing Cheng aboard didn’t require a corresponding move-just a calculated roll of the dice on a player who, while unproven at the big-league level, still carries some upside.
Cheng made his MLB debut with Pittsburgh in 2025, though it was a brief and quiet entrance: seven plate appearances, no hits. But what makes this move interesting isn’t what Cheng has done in the majors-it’s what the Mets might see in him going forward.
Let’s be honest: Cheng’s numbers at Triple-A last season weren’t pretty. He slashed just .209/.307/.271 with one homer and 99 strikeouts over 397 plate appearances.
That’s a tough line, especially for a middle infielder trying to break through on a team with veteran depth. But the Mets clearly believe there’s enough in his profile-whether it’s his speed, defensive versatility, or potential contact skills-to warrant a closer look this spring.
The challenge for Cheng? Cracking a roster that’s already packed to the brim.
Bichette joins an infield that features Francisco Lindor, Marcus Semien, and Jorge Polanco-three established starters with little reason to come off the field. Even the bench picture is murky.
Players like Mark Vientos, Luisangel Acuña, Ronny Mauricio, and Brett Baty are all fighting for roster spots, and it’s unlikely the Mets can carry all four into Opening Day without making some moves.
So where does Cheng fit in? Realistically, his path to playing time hinges on a few dominoes falling.
An injury in camp, a spring training trade, or a surprise performance could open a door. Until then, he’s more of a depth play-someone who adds insurance and competition in an area where the Mets are already loaded.
Still, for a team looking to build a roster with both star power and flexibility, moves like this are part of the long game. Cheng may not be a household name, and his bat has work to do, but the Mets are betting that with the right development, he could become more than just a waiver-wire footnote.