PORT ST. LUCIE — Juan Lagares’ reward for emerging among the best defensive center fielders in baseball last season is having to compete for a job with the Mets this spring.
On a team that scores ample runs, it would be a no-brainer: Leave the 24-year-old Lagares in center and let his defensive ability compensate for any shortcomings in his swing. But even with the additions of Curtis Granderson and Chris Young in the offseason, the Mets have concerns about their lineup, and that directly impacts Lagares.
“I think I did good last year, but I know I can do a little better,” Lagares said Tuesday. “That is what I’m working in the offseason for — I would like to get better in every aspect and see what happens.”
Though he played Gold Glove-caliber center field after taking over the position full-time last summer, Lagares batted only .242 with four homers and 34 RBIs with a .633 OPS in 392 at-bats.
Those numbers have the Mets strongly considering an outfield that would include Eric Young Jr. in left, moving Chris Young to center with Granderson in right. Young Jr.’s inclusion in the lineup would give manager Terry Collins perhaps his best leadoff option.
Collins was asked if Lagares can win a starting job just by showing offensive spark this spring.
“I think there’s going to be a lot of factors going into it,” Collins said. “We’re very fortunate right now to have a group of guys that are out there, and I’m not excluding Kirk Nieuwenhuis or Matt den Dekker, but this might be the best, absolutely the best, group of defenders I have been around in one camp, including those two guys.
“Curtis can play center, Chris was an outstanding center fielder — an All-Star — and we know how good Juan is. So we’re very lucky to have him and we’re just going to weed it out as we go.”
One Mets pitcher expressed disappointment recently when told Lagares might not be the team’s starting center fielder in 2014. Another pitcher, Zack Wheeler, said it was reassuring to have Lagares in center. Last year, Lagares recorded 15 outfield assists to set a Mets rookie record.
“He’s also not scared to run full speed into the wall, and that definitely helps us mentally,” Wheeler said.
Lagares was among the Mets players who attended an offseason conditioning and nutrition program in Michigan. He was playing in the Dominican Republic earlier in the offseason, but curtailed those plans after sustaining a minor knee injury.
“The only thing I can show is what I know how to do: Play hard and try to do my job,” Lagares said.
The Mets will begin the exhibition season on Feb. 28 with Lagares in center, but from that point forward Collins will attempt to get a look at all options. Maybe Lagares’ best hope is Ruben Tejada returning to form and showing the Mets he’s a capable leadoff hitter, lessening the need for Young Jr. to play. If Lagares isn’t the starter, there is a chance he could begin the season at Triple-A Las Vegas.
Collins already knows what he has in Lagares.
“The job we saw night in and night out, he was a tremendous defender with a great arm — he shut down the running game,” Collins said. “Teams just stopped trying to score some runs — unless there was two outs — they just stopped trying to score.”