It’s going to take a while before I give the Mets the benefit of the doubt on anything … especially when it comes to spending cash. Maybe it’s unfair of me to wait until the club spends a gazillion dollars on an overpriced free agent for me to believe in them … because most likely that gazillion dollars will be wasted.
But what they finalized today with Juan Lagares is just damn smart. They bought out his arbitration years and have a club option for the following season now that they’ve signed him to a four year $23 million deal which starts in 2016. It’s smart because it shows a commitment to a very important player in this Mets puzzle, and gives him a little security. It’s also smart because of the way defense is valued these days by clubs (especially at a large patch of grass like the Citi Field outfield), they might have saved themselves a big arbitration payday for Lagares … especially if Kevin Long turns him into a beast in the leadoff spot.
Let’s see what they do with Matt Harvey if his great spring carries over through September. Then maybe the benefit of my doubt will return. But this trading for two lefty relievers and giving Lagares some money is a good start.
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