Update: Rich Coutinho of 98.7 ESPN reports that there is no substance to Francesca’s report from either side. On top of it, Mike Puma of the New York Post hears that the Mets and Giants haven’t spoken in weeks and that they expect to neither subtract nor add any position players before Opening Day.
Original Post- February 14th, 11:42 a.m.
The New York Mets are reportedly shopping outfielder Juan Lagares.
“I don’t know if they’ll keep Lagares or not,” Francesa said Tuesday on WOR. “I know the Giants want Lagares. The Mets are interested in Joe Panik.”
Lagares’s name has been floated around as a trade candidate a few times over the last season or so, but with Michael Conforto sidelined to begin the season, it seemed like a lock they would hold on to him.
If the Mets were to acquire Panik, it would likely move Asdrubal Cabrera to a super-utility role. Francesa added that “all he knows is the Mets like Panik a lot.”
Lagares hit .250/.296/.365 with three home runs and 15 RBI in 272 plate appearances for the Mets in 2017. He also had a 77 wRC+ and a .287 wOBA.
In 566.2 innings in center field, the 28-year-old was good for 15 defensive runs saved (DRS) and had a 10.4 UZR.
Panik hit to a .288/.347/.421 clip with 10 home runs and 53 RBI over 573 plate appearances for the Giants last season. He also had a 104 wRC+ and a .329 wOBA.
Over 1,190.0 innings at the keystone in 2018, he had -11 DRS and a -1.2 UZR. However, in 2016 in 1,081.0 innings, he logged three DRS and had a 7.4 UZR.
Update: Rich Coutinho of 98.7 ESPN reports that there is no substance to Francesca’s report from either side. On top of it, Mike Puma of the New York Post hears that the Mets and Giants haven’t spoken in weeks and that they expect to neither subtract nor add any position players before Opening Day.
