The Mets acquired a center fielder Saturday, but not one of the headline-making, splashy free-agent variety. Think more defensive specialist. Sort of another Juan Lagares, without the thick binder of medical reports.
He's Keon Broxton, who now comes to Flushing after the Mets sent three minor-leaguers to the Brewers, most notably hard-throwing reliever Bobby Wahl, the return from last year's Jeurys Famila deal. Joining Wahl in the package to Milwaukee is reliever Adam Hill and infielder Felix Valerio.
Despite the enduring availability of A.J. Pollock, and for the dreamers, Bryce Harper, the Mets tapped Broxton, a move that at least gives them some much-needed center field depth behind the oft-injured Lagares, who has averaged 68 games the past three seasons. As it stands now, the Mets intend to go with an outfield alignment that features Lagares flanked by Michael Conforto in left and Brandon Nimmo in right.
Adding Broxton as a healthier alternative in center field, however, could always be a catalyst for a renewed effort at trading Lagares, who has been on the block before. The Mets would likely prefer to shed Lagares' $9 million salary this season before making a serious bid for Pollock, whose market could be dropping from the initial estimates of a four-year deal in the neighborhood of $60 million.
In Broxton, 28, the Mets have another stellar glove, with limited production at the plate. The team's announcement highlighted the fact that Broxton had 13 defensive runs saved since 2016, which ranks him 14th among all outfielders during that span (according to FanGraphs).
"Keon is a dynamic athlete with the ability to impact the game in the outfield, on the bases and with his bat," GM Brodie Van Wagenen said in a statement. "He adds depth to our major league roster for 2019 and into the future."
Offensively, Broxton _ a right-handed bat like Lagares _ does have speed, with a total of 49 stolen bases (over 269 games) during the last three years. But he's a .221 career hitter over fragments of four seasons, with a .734 OPS.
Back in 2017, when Broxton appeared in 143 games for the Brewers, he hit 20 homers, but his playing time was curtailed significantly last year by Milwaukee's offseason acquisitions of Lorenzo Cain and Christian Yelich, the latter earning NL MVP honors. The Brewers needed to move Broxton because he's out of minor league options, so the Mets can't demote him without clearing waivers first.
Wahl, 26, appeared in seven games last season for the Mets, giving up a pair of homers and striking out seven over 51/3 innings. During his 58-game stretch at Triple-A, mostly in the A's system, Wahl had a 2.66 ERA and 14.5 K/9.
Hill, 21, was the Mets' fourth-round pick from last year's draft, and had a 2.35 ERA in nine relief appearances for the Cyclones. Valerio, 18, batted .319 with 17 doubles in 67 games in the Dominican Summer League last year, his first pro season.
