Mets, Lagares finalize 4-year extension
Arguably the best defensive center fielder in baseball will be staying in New York for years to come.
The Mets announced a four-year contract extension with Juan Lagares on Thursday that's worth a reported $23 million, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.
The deal will kick in next season and includes a club option for the 2020 campaign. The extension will cover all of Lagares's arbitration years and the club option coincides with his first free-agent year.
Lagares, fresh off his first Gold Glove season, hit .281 with four home runs and 47 RBIs in 116 games for the Mets in 2014. He also led all big-league center fielders with a 3.4 defensive WAR. The 26-year-old is slashing an impressive .345/.400/.655 this spring.
The Mets are also reportedly in extension talks with first baseman Lucas Duda.