The Mets have agreed to sign outfielder Alejandro De Aza to a one-year contract, CBS Sports MLB Insider Jon Heyman has confirmed. The deal is worth $5.75 million with another $1.25 million in incentives. The team has not yet confirmed the signing.
De Aza, 31, will share center field duties with Juan Lagares, according to Heyman. De Aza is a left-handed hitter and Lagares is a right-handed hitter, so they're natural platoon mates. Lagares is a far superior defender, however.
In 90 games in 2015, De Aza hit .261/.319/.436 (102 OPS+) overall and .278/.351/.448 (121 OPs+) against righties. He played with three teams this past season, going from the Orioles to the Red Sox to the Giants in minor trades.
De Aza and Lagares will be flanked by Curtis Granderson and Michael Conforto in the outfield. It has been unlikely the Mets would re-sign Yoenis Cespedes all offseason, and De Aza's addition all but confirms it.
