PHOENIX — The Mets outfield is about to become a “juggling match.”
With Chris Young in position to be activated from the disabled list on Friday when the Mets begin their next homestand, manager Terry Collins on Monday indicated he plans to hold a meeting soon with his outfielders to discuss playing time.
Young, Juan Lagares and Eric Young Jr. will give the Mets three outfielders for two spots. Curtis Granderson has slumped to begin the season, but will remain in the lineup on an everyday basis, according to Collins.
Though Lagares has excelled playing every day over the first two weeks of the season with Young on the disabled list, he won’t be immune from the occasionally sitting.
“Somebody is going to sit once in a while,” Collins said before the Mets faced the Diamondbacks at Chase Field. “I wouldn’t say [Lagares] is going to be in there necessarily more than anybody else, because I’m going to get each of those guys a blow every now and then and try to keep them fresh.
“When Chris gets back I’m going to have the meeting with the four or five guys and explain how I’m going to run it. It’s going to be a juggling match that hopefully we’ll have success doing, that each guy will be refreshed.”
After missing the opener because of discomfort in his right quadriceps, Young started in left field against the Nationals on April 2, but was removed after a half-inning. The Mets placed him on the DL the following day.
In the meantime, Young Jr. and Lagares have played regularly in left and center field, respectively.
Lagares was hitting .319 with a .353 on-base percentage and .821 OPS entering Monday’s play. He has been a bright spot to a lineup that has underachieved with Granderson (.159 batting average), Travis d’Arnaud (.152) and David Wright (.229) among the big disappointments.
“[Lagares] has been doing an amazing job in clutch situations,” Granderson said. “And he’s handled himself, whether it’s a righty that’s in there or a righty brought in to face him or a tough starter. He’s done a lot of the things needed to succeed, he’s done a lot of those with flying colors.”
As brutal as Granderson has been at the plate, it’s too early for the Mets to consider splitting his playing time. If Granderson’s struggles persist into the summer, maybe team decision-makers will have that conversation. But the Mets aren’t paying Granderson $60 million over four seasons to play part-time.
“I’m going to send [Granderson] out there,” Collins said. “The only way to get out of a slump is to work your way out of it. Sitting down right now? Not to those kind of guys. That doesn’t help.”
Lagares has settled into the sixth spot in the batting order, but may get a look at leadoff when Young Jr. isn’t in the lineup.
“I think he’s a little more disciplined at the plate and that’s why he’s made better contact,” Collins said. “Right now while he’s hot, let’s get him on base and let’s take our chances with guys standing at second base with the middle of the lineup coming up.”