Mets Sign Juan Lagares To 4 Year, $20 Million Extension

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — New York Mets center fielder Juan Lagares has a long-term contract to go with his Gold Glove Award. Lagares and the Mets have agreed to a contract extension through 2019, with an option for the following year, sources told ESPN.com.  The deal covers all of Lagares’ arbitration years and guarantees him more than $20 million. It also includes a team option for 2020, which would be the first season that Lagares otherwise would be eligible for free agency. Lagares, 26, hit .281 with four homers and 47 RBIs in 416 at-bats in 2014. According to ESPN Stats & Information, he led all major-league center fielders with 28 Defensive Runs Saved in 2014. That total nearly doubled the center fielders with the next-highest total, Ender Inciarte of the Arizona Diamondbacksand Leonys Martin of the Texas Rangers (15 apiece). In November, Lagares became the third Mets outfielder to win a Gold Glove, joining Carlos Beltran and Tommie Agee.

Juanny Beisbol through 2020 on a team friendly deal? Yes please. No April Fools here, we just locked up the best defensive centerfielder in all of baseball. And I’m not one to put much stock in Spring Training performances, but if he can be even close to as productive with the bat as he has been down in PSL, Juanny is gonna be a very valuable part of this team. I complain all the time about how the Mets wont open the wallets and go get a major corner outfield who carries a big stick, but I got no problem with a long term commitment to Lagares in center. Its an inexpensive commitment to a young defensive stud who’s shown brilliance in the field and signs of promise at the plate. The fact that he’s a fan favorite and has a phenomenal nickname is just icing on the cake.