Padres sign former Mets’ outfielder Juan Lagares
Credit: NY Daily News
Juan Lagares signed with the San Diego Padres on Monday to help bolster the team’s outfield situation.
With a potential hole in centerfield, the San Diego Padres signed Juan Lagares to a one-year deal.
The outfielder signed a Minor League deal worth $1.4 million this season plus another potential $1 million in performance bonuses and incentives.
The light-hitting outfielder is highly-regarded in centerfield, where he won a Gold Glove in 2014 as a 24-year-old. Lagares has amassed a remarkable 9.9 WAR rating in defense alone throughout his seven-year career. The 2019 season was the only year in which he did not record a positive WAR rating on defense. The outfielder did record five OOA (Outs Above Average) for the Mets, even in a down year.
Lagares will provide plenty of defense for the Padres, but he does not bring much with the bat.
The career .254 hitter does not walk much and has very little power. There is not much speed to his game at all, either. At this point, Lagares will probably be used against tough left-handed pitchers and late in games as a defensive replacement if he makes the team.
Juan Lagares to Padres
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) February 11, 2020
The Padres have Franchy Cordero, and Trent Grisham penciled in at center, so this signing makes sense for the Padres.
You get a feeling that there are more moves on the horizon with the club. Adding Lagares solidifies the outfield area and gives the Padres a potential great defender up the middle. If San Diego can get any offensive output from the soon-to-be 31-year-old, then this will be an excellent addition for the team.
James was born and raised in America’s Finest City. He is a passionate baseball fan with even more passion towards his hometown Padres. Editor-In-Chief of EastVillageTimes.com. Always striving to bring you the highest quality in San Diego Sports News. Original content, with original ideas, that’s our motto. Enjoy.
Es una buena firma ,porqué San Diego cambió a margot, y lagares es tremendo jardinero central..
Should go get Kevin Pillar on a 1-2 year contract. Plays hard, good defensively and hits better with power
Hey James do the Padres have a thing for signing 200 hitters. Wouldn’t it nice if San Diego actually would sign some major League hitters who can actually hit and hit for average.