Mets sign OF Juan Lagares to four-year extension
The New York Mets have signed outfielder Juan Lagares to a four-year, $23 million contract extension, the team announced on Thursday.
The contract also includes a team option for the 2020 season.
On Wednesday, ESPN’s Jim Bowden initially reported the deal will cover all three of Lagares’ arbitration years, with a club option that would include his first year of potential free agency. Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports reported the terms of the deal.
Team writer Anthony DiComo reported that Lagares hinted the deal was nearly completed on Wednesday.
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Lagares completed his second season as a regular for the Mets in 2014, winning a Gold Glove in centerfield and improving to .281/.321/.382 with four homers and 47 RBIs at the plate.
He was seventh in the National League with a WAR of 5.5, according to Baseball-Reference.com, and was second in the NL with a defensive WAR of 3.4.
Opponents did not challenge Lagares’ arm nearly as frequently last season as they did in 2013, when his 15 outfield assists were second in the NL and his 14 as a center fielder led the NL at the position. Last season, Lagares had six assists while playing exclusively in center field.
He was signed by the Mets as an international free agent from the Dominican Republic in 2006 and made his debut with the Mets in April 2013.
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