Reese Kaplan -- Juan Gone?

There have been a number of stories in the media about teams looking to acquire Mets centerfielder Juan Lagares.  That kind of deal probably has people at both ends of the spectrum, some figuring he hasn’t had the opportunity to show his new swing with limited appearances this Spring, while others think he’s failed on the extended looks between DL stints and failed to deliver.  From the front office perspective, he’s earning $6.5 million this year and $9 million next year with a $9.5 million option for 2020.  Getting out from under is a risk they likely deem worth taking to get out from under the financial obligation where he is now at best the 5^th outfielder with Brandon Nimmo having leapfrogged him on the depth chart.

The problem for the Mets is that they are mighty thin in outfield prospects.  Internal options would include Phil Evans, Matt den Dekker and Zach Borenstein.  As a 5^th outfielder any of them are probably passable options, but each comes with his own issues.

Phil Evans is kind of this year’s T.J. Rivera – a guy who can hit and is willing to play anywhere, but with little power, little speed and at best an adequate glove.  He did hit a combined .321 last year between AA and AAA as well as .303 in a limited September trial in Queens.  He’s not on the roster, but David Wright’s impending 60-day DL stint will open up a spot.

Matt den Dekker is a flashy fielder but he’s never delivered much with the bat.  Over parts of five seasons he has slashed just .234/7/29 with a dozen stolen bases.  He twice had lower minor league seasons with 17 HRs and over 20 SBs but as he ascended through the ranks he’s not been able to duplicate that level of production.

Zach Borenstein is one of those all or nothing type of hitters who draws mirror image comparisons to Travis Taijeron.  A left handed hitter, he’s good for about an average of 20 HRs and 90 RBIs per season with a .280 batting average.  On the surface that sounds pretty good, but at age 27 he’s yet to crack the majors.  He was one of the first cuts the Mets made to move him to the minor league camp which suggests they feel he’s merely filler for AAA.

There are options available on the FA market should the Mets feel they need to address a hypothetical Lagares vacancy on the roster.  There are some former star caliber players who at this stage may have to accept the fact they are bench players.  This group would include Jose Bautista, Melky Cabrera, Andre Ethier, Matt Holliday and Jayson Werth.

Then you have people who have been starters for much of their careers but not in the upper echelon. That list would include Seth Smith, Chris Coghlan and Franklin Guttierez.

Finally you have some wildcards – players who don’t have much of a track record like Arismendy Alcantara or (briefly a Met) Justin Ruggiano.

What do you all think about the prospect of trading away the flashy fielding but otherwise disappointing Juan Lagares?  I’d sign off on it assuming the return is a non-roster lower level minor leaguer.  That move would also open up a roster spot for someone not yet on the 40.  More importantly, it would provide salary relief now and next year as well.  Assuming Michael Conforto is back by mid May, Lagares’ ABs would be hard to find, though he does have right handedness in his favor with Jay Bruce, Nimmo and Conforto all swinging from the left side.

So has the Juan Lagares era come to an end?