The Mets must like having guys named Chris Young on the roster.
With a need for offense, the club has reached agreement on a one-year deal worth $7.25 million with the veteran outfielder Young, pending a physical, an industry source confirmed on Friday.
The 30-year-old Young — not to be confused with the pitcher by the same name who played for the Mets in 2011 and 2012 — batted .200 with 12 homers and 40 RBIs in 325 at-bats for the Athletics last season, when he made $8.5 million.
Young can play all three outfield positions. Last year, he played primarily center field, but the Mets still appear committed to Juan Lagares at that position after watching him excel there as a rookie in 2013.
But the Mets like Young, who has four seasons of at least 20 homers, mostly for his power potential.
“He’s kind of feast-or-famine,” an AL talent evaluator said. “He hasn’t hit for the power you want the last few years, and he strikes out a lot. He’s a tools-y guy you keep thinking might be better, but he hasn’t lately.”
Young’s best season came with the Diamondbacks in 2010, when he hit .257 with 27 homers and 91 RBIs and was selected to the NL All-Star team.
“A one-year contract, it’s a stopgap,” the evaluator said. “I don’t know why you get him for only one year of control when you’re not supposed to win next year. I’m surprised they didn’t give an option — in case he does well, they would get him another year.”
Young’s contract is the second-largest given to a free agent by the Mets since general manager Sandy Alderson’s arrival following the 2010 season. Alderson infamously signed Frank Francisco to a two-year, $12 million deal in December 2011. Last offseason, the Mets gave David Wright — who was not a free agent — an eight-year contract extension worth $138 million.
The Mets are still hopeful of adding a bigger bat to the outfield and continue to monitor the market on free agents Curtis Granderson and Nelson Cruz. Young provides another right-handed bat to an outfield that includes the righty-hitting Lagares and switch-hitter Eric Young Jr.
In what direction the Mets will turn in their effort to improve at shortstop should Jhonny Peralta remain beyond the team’s financial grasp remains unclear.
As The Post’s Joel Sherman has reported, Peralta is seeking a contract of four to five years that would pay between $56 and $75 million. The Post reported earlier this week Mets officials were intent on a two-year deal for Peralta, with whom they met during the general managers’ meetings in Orlando, Fla., earlier this month.
Young’s signing puts the Mets’ payroll for next season at roughly $60 million, if estimated arbitration raises are factored. Earlier this week, Alderson said next year’s payroll would at least equal the 2013 figure of $87 million.
Alderson could look to further increase payroll flexibility by trading a higher-priced arbitration eligible player such as Daniel Murphy or Ike Davis.