The Mets signed infielder Josh Rodriguez to a Minor League deal.

Rodriguez is probably joining the organization to give the team flexibility at Triple-A Buffalo. He has mostly played shortstop in the Minors, but has also spent time at second, third and in all three outfield spots.

Rodriguez endured a rough season at the plate in 2011, mustering only a .672 OPS in 295 at-bats between Double-A and Triple-A with the Pirates and Indians, and mostly at the lower level. But as recently as 2010 he looked like he could hit a bit, posting a sturdy .293/.372/.486 line in 317 at-bats for the Indians’ Triple-A team in Columbus.

That translates to a .254/.322/.409 line at Citi Field. So if he could regain that form, he’d fit as a replacement for Justin Turner as a righty-hitting utility man at the bigs if need be or — yeesh — represent a slight offensive upgrade over the 2011 version of Jason Bay in left.

More likely, Rodriguez gets sporadic at-bats in Double-A or Triple-A as an organizational soldier and we don’t hear his name again unless there’s a rash of injuries. But then we probably shouldn’t rule out a rash of injuries.