The Mets have declined their club option over outfielder Juan Lagares. Meanwhile, second baseman Joe Panik and lefty Donnie Hart each elected free agency after being outrighted.
Lagares was sure to be bought out at $500K after a brutal season at the plate. His option would’ve cost the team $9.5MM, so it was an easy call to say goodbye.
Plagued by injuries in recent years, Lagares was healthy in 2019. But his performance fell apart in all respects. Typically a valued defender, the 30-year-old hit just .213/.279/.326 while drawing negative defensive grades.
Panik, picked up in the middle of the season, projected to earn $5.1MM in arbitration. Though he had a solid showing upon his return to his native New York, that was too big a tab to pick up.
The 29-year-old Hart threw 7 2/3 scoreless innings this year for the Brewers and Mets, with just one appearance coming in New York. In 44 2/3 Triple-A frames, he worked to a 4.43 ERA with 6.6 K/9 and 2.8 BB/9. He’ll be looking for work as a lefty specialist, likely on a minor-league deal.
Thank God. Finally, weak hitting Juan is gone.
At least we still have Cano.
Jeez I hope the Tigers sign Juan Lugares! Easy call to buy him out but something tells me he is a bounce back candidate in the right environment.
Toledo just might be that environment.
The Tigers suck so bad right now Toledo couldn’t hold anyone with a speck of MLB talent from the major league lineup.
I would love to see the Tigers sign Lugares and Billy Hamilton then put JaCoby Jones in right. Nothing would fall in Comerica and we would at least have some defensive highlights to cheer. Maybe get Adam Jones too for a little bat action and make a few people wonder whether the Tigers are still trying to tank on purpose.
If the Tigers sign Lagares and Hamilton, it will confirm that the Tigets are tanking.
He’s done!
Juan Lagares is not an upgrade from Daz Cameron in AAA. Besides, Al Avila has only acquired free agents he thinks hewill be able to trade off mid-season.
And, a manager who has to learn on the job (will likely be great for the next team that hires him).
Been a Mets fan since 1966, however….
Leave the Mets. Leave the Mets.
Go right out and screw the Mets
Find your team in some other town
Go & scream all up & down.
*** The Meet the Mets theme song is depressing me right now***
The Mets were ten games over .500 and have a good team. Calm down. You managed to make it through the early 90s so this should be nothing.
The Sun will come up tomorrow!
One of the dumbest moves was extending Lagares. There was nothing compelling them to do the deal. The moron GM thought it was a good deal- obviously misjudging the talent level. Nothing about him said he could hit
He hit enough and was the best fielding outfielder at the time. Injuries derailed him after the contract. It wasn’t bad idea at the time cuz his trajectory was for him to earn a lot more than he did
Incorrect. This deal could have had incredible value if Lagares did not get hurt.
A little upset about letting Donnie Hart go. He was trained by Stu in the Hart Family Dungeon. Thought he had all the tools.
He’ll just be another victim for Zodiac and Jason the Terrible!
he’s just another dude dressed in pink using the sharp shooter
Juan has never put together a decent season yet peeps love him. What’s up with that ? He terrible people… shouldn’t be in the majors to begin with
Lagares was a 5 war player in his first full season.
If only the guy could HIT! Yes, in retrospect, it WAS a bad decision to give him that large contract that just expired. I’m glad he’s no longer counted against the 40-man roster. Now watch him go somewhere else (a very good, winning ball club) and tear things up for a season or two…or…sign with the Marlins and disappear forever. His time with the Mets was DONE.
The Mets need a real CF how about Matz for Marte he still has speed,power and better defense in CF than anyone they had out there, than trade D.Smith and a minor leaguer to Detroit for Boyd to fill in for Matz, than sign a couple of rp’s
I wish Joe Panik the best of luck. He’s a class act and team player.
I liked Panik. I am hoping they dropped him due to the pricing, and consider discussing a more friendly contract between both parties. wouldn’t mind him back again