The Mets, looking for a left-handed-hitting complement to Juan Lagares in center field, intend to meet with free agent Denard Span in January, the New York Post reported.
Span, who turns 32 in February, played in only 61 games for the Nationals in 2015 because of three separate injuries — and, thus, agent Scott Boras says Span will meet in Tampa with interested teams to prove his health.
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If Span can do that, then his numbers in limited plate appearances in 2015 could make him appealing for the Mets. He had a .301/.365/.431 slash line last season.
Lagares' career .627 OPS against right-handed pitching makes the lefty-swinging Span a good fit, plus he wouldn't cost New York a compensation pick because the Nats didn't make him a qualifying offer. However, signing Span could push Lagares, 26, to a fourth-outfielder role.
According to the Post, the Mets also have spoken with lefty-hitting free-agent center fielder Gerardo Parra's representatives, but New York also could go with a lower-priced outfield option, such as free agent Alejandro De Aza, who wouldn’t downsize Lagares' role as much.
