![\"Jose](\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/02\/Jose-Siri-3.jpg?w=1024\")
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe 29-year-old Siri was the team\u2019s first noteworthy acquisition of the offseason, arriving in a Nov. 19 trade with the Rays for reliever Eric Orze.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt surprised me that Tampa traded me,\u201d Siri said through an interpreter. \u201cBut then I thought about it: [New York] is a big city, it\u2019s a great team, and then I started thinking about the opportunities that I would be able to have.\u201d<\/p>\n
Among them was a good chance of returning to the postseason \u2014 he reached the playoffs three straight years with the Astros and Rays before missing last season.<\/p>\n
Offensively, there isn\u2019t much to love about Siri, who posted a .187\/.255\/.366 slash line with 18 homers and 47 RBIs last season. Included were 170 strikeouts in 402 at-bats.<\/p>\n Upon his arrival to camp, Siri told manager Carlos Mendoza his goal is to improve his plate discipline. Last season, Siri\u2019s chase rate of 35.2 percent placed him in MLB\u2019s 12th percentile, according to Statcast. His whiff rate (swing and miss) was 41.9 percent, placing him in the first percentile.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is swing and miss there, and that is something he brought up to us,\u201d Mendoza said. \u201cHe wants to make more contact. He wants to put the ball in play. There\u2019s power there. There is room for improvement \u2026 making better swing decisions, but I think it comes down to putting the ball in play.\u201d<\/p>\n Siri is expected to fill the role Harrison Bader had with the team last season as a less-than-full-time player. Tyrone Taylor for a second straight season is expected to also receive opportunities at the position.<\/p>\n Soto and Siri both hail from the Dominican Republic and know each other. For Siri, the opportunity to play alongside one of the game\u2019s biggest stars will only add to the allure of New York.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have a real good relationship and it\u2019s going to be a lot of fun in the outfield,\u201d Siri said. \u201cI also think we have a great chance to do a lot of good things offensively. The things that I admire about [Soto] are the way he talks about hitting, his thought process and his overall approach.\u201d<\/p>\n Defensively, Siri is at the top of the class among center fielders \u2014 his 16 outs above average ranked in MLB\u2019s 99th percentile last season.<\/p>\n His arm strength and sprint speed are also at elite levels, according to Statcast. The 6-foot-2 Siri is a highlight reel in the making with his ability to reach above fences \u2014 sometimes levitating \u2014 to rob opponents of home runs.<\/p>\n \u201cIt never hurts your feelings to have some elite defense behind you, especially in center field,\u201d Stanek said. \u201cYou are less worried about contact because somebody like that\u2019s out there. Gap to gap, [Siri] covers so much ground. The speed is real. The glove is obviously real.\u201d<\/p>\n Siri was asked if there is a center fielder better than him defensively.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll see when the season starts,\u201d Siri said. \u201cI don\u2019t want to get too ahead of myself.\u201d<\/p>\n For now, Siri is just absorbing his new surroundings.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel very fortunate and thankful that God gave me the opportunity to come to a team like this,\u201d Siri said. \u201cA great fan base, a great organization.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Jose Siri\u2019s speed and defense are elite. His bat? Well, that\u2019s another matter.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":35528,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[44,17,50,780],"class_list":["post-35526","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb","tag-mlb","tag-new-york-mets","tag-sports","tag-spring-training"],"yoast_head":"\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n![\"Jose](\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/02\/Jose-Siri-2.jpg?w=1024\")
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