Second baseman Joe Panik, released by the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday, has agreed to a free-agent deal with the New York Mets, the team announced Friday.
It's a homecoming for Panik, who attended high school in Hopewell Junction, New York, and attended St. John's University. He cleared waivers on Friday.
The Mets, who enter Friday's game against the Washington Nationals just a half-game out of the second National League wild-card spot, need a second baseman after Robinson Cano tore his left hamstring earlier this week.
Panik hit .