Mets reach deal with OF De Aza

De Aza had a. 755 OPS last season in 114 games in the majors.

The Mets are on the verge of signing free agent outfielder Alejandro De Aza, a source confirmed.

De Aza, 31, hit. His defense, specifically in center field, has been questioned at times, but his consistent offensive production against right-handers might have been enough to lead the Mets to sign him.

But it’s De Aza’s bat that the Mets are banking on, especially in light of Lagares’ struggles hitting right-handed pitching.

De Aza and the Mets have reportedly agreed to a one-year deal worth around $4.5 million, according to ESPN’s Buster Olney.

De Aza, 32 in April, profiles as a decent platoon option.

This signing is also another sign that the team will not reunite with Yoenis Cespedes since he figures to sign a lucrative long-term deal with another team this offseason. His WAR has decreased in each of the last four seasons, although he has had a notable amount of success against right-handed pitchers. He played with three teams this past season, going from the Orioles to the Red Sox to the Giants in minor trades. He has -3.1 defensive WAR over his career, and has been just about league average based on Defensive Runs Saved in center field.

When it appeared like the Mets’ budget would be extremely limited, I was wary of them using a large chunk of their resources on Span, but now that they’ve shown the willingness to add significant pieces to fill all of their areas of need, a two-year deal for Span would actually be a worthy gamble.