Mets: Juan Lagares best and worst case scenarios for 2019

The New York Mets are hoping for a healthier year from Juan Lagares in 2019. Let’s examine the best and worst possible outcomes for the coming year.

Originally signed as an international free agent by the New York Mets back in 2006 at the age of 17, Juan Lagares first debut with the Mets in April of the 2013 season.

Soon after his call-up, he quickly took over as the Mets’ everyday center fielder and became known for his defensive prowess, regularly making spectacular catches, and led the majors with 12 defensive runs saved for the 2013 season, as well as ranking second in outfield assists.

He continued on as starting center fielder for the Mets into the 2014 season and along with his premier defensive, noticeably improved his offensive output, raising his average from .242 in 2013 to .281 for the 2014 season. He also won his first Gold Glove Award at the conclusion of the season.

Lagares began the 2015 season as the starting center fielder once again for the Mets, but after the call-up of top prospect Michael Conforto and acquisition of Yoenis Cespedes from the Detroit Tigers later in July of that year, he was relegated to the bench as the Mets fourth outfielder, being used often as a pinch hitter or defensive replacement late in games, as well as the occasional start against left-handed hitters.

From the 2016 season to the present, the job as a fourth outfielder and right-handed bat off of the bench has remained Lagares’ role on the team due to being consistently blocked by outfielders with better offensive metrics.

Additionally, he has been unable to capitalize on getting playing time when while his other teammates have been either injured or traded due to several injuries of his own. Lagares has failed to appear in over 100 games in each of the past few seasons. In fact, he was limited to just 30 last season and was ruled out for the season in May of last year due to a torn plantar plate in his toe.

Now that he has fully recovered from his injury and played a few tune-up games in the Dominican Winter League, Lagares is slated to begin the 2019season  as the Mets Opening Day center fielder for the first time since 2015.

Barring any blockbuster signings or trades by GM Brodie Van Wagenen, Lagares appears to be the Mets best option to replace the injured Yoenis Cespedes in the outfield, as he is still recovering from ankle surgery and is expected to remain out until at least July.

The only outfield signings the Mets made this offseason were signing both Rajai Davis and Gregor Blanco to minor league deals with invitations to spring training, as well as completing a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers for Keon Broxton, who plays solid defense in center field, but struggled at the plate last year.

Due to their lack of significant moves to this point, the job as the Mets Opening Day center fielder clearly appears to be Lagares’ to lose. Here are his best and worst case scenarios for 2019.

Worst Case Scenario

Like I said, the key for Lagares to have a successful year next season is for him to stay healthy, which he has been unable to do in the past three years.

While I remain optimistic that he seizes what could be his last opportunity to be an everyday starter with the Mets, there is a decent chance that he re-injures himself at some point next season.

To me, that would be the worst case scenario for the Mets if it were to happen.

Even when he hasn’t hit particularly well, his lowest recorded batting average for a season came back in 2016 where he hit .239 in 79 games. While that isn’t great for an everyday starter for a competing team, his defensive prowess would still warrant him playing at least until Cespedes returns or if the Mets acquire another outfielder via trade.

However, if Lagares were to get hurt, this would be a much larger issue for the Mets, as they do not have a lot of depth in the outfield at this time.

Last year they ran into this issue and ended up having to sign the likes of Jose Bautista and Austin Jackson because they had no one left to play towards the end of the season.

Aside from Lagares, the only legitimate options to play in center field are the newly acquired Keon Broxton, who batted .179 in 51 games last season and .220 in 143 games the year prior, Raja Davis, who hit .224 in 101 games and joined the Mets on a minor league contract, and Gregor Blanco, who also is signed to a minor league contract and hit .217 in 68 games for the Giants last year.

With Conforto and Nimmo set to begin the year playing in the corner positions, the Mets could also move one of them to Center and have 1B/LF Dominic Smith spend some time in Left Field as he did in 13 games last season, but he also had a low average, hitting only .224 last year.

Clearly, of all of those options, Lagares is the best of all of those options to start the season in center, as even if he regresses to his career-worst batting average, he’d still out hit all the Mets’ other options for next year.

If he were to get hurt, however, that would be the worst situation for the Mets and would put them in a tough spot as they do not have any great hitting options to replace him and it would mean getting no productivity out of a player who they are paying $9 million next year.

While I hope this doesn’t happen and Juan Lagares is able to stay on the field next year, the Mets need to be prepared to the possibility that he once again misses significant time on the DL again this season.

Want your voice heard? Join the Rising Apple team!

Write for us!

Does anyone have Curtis Granderson‘s number?