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          New York Mets

          Lagares to get first crack over EY Jr.?

          • Adam Rubin, ESPN Staff WriterMar 25, 2014, 02:56 PM ET
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              Adam Rubin has covered the Mets since 2003. He's a graduate of Mepham High School on Long Island and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He joined ESPNNewYork after spending 10 years at the New York Daily News.
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          Juan Lagares

          Juan Lagares

          #12 CF
          New York Mets

          2013 STATS

          • GM121

          • HR4

          • RBI34

          • R35

          • OBP.281

          • AVG.242

          VIERA, Fla. -- Did Sandy Alderson tip his hand that Juan Lagares would get the first crack to be the regular outfielder over Eric Young Jr.?

          Quite possibly.

          "I think everybody would probably agree he's our best [defensive] outfielder, he's our best center fielder," Alderson said Tuesday about Lagares. "But he's going to have to hit a little bit, too. So if he were to start in center field on Opening Day, we'd have to see over a period of time -- how long, how short I don't know -- that he can carry the offensive side of the game as well. And if that's not the case, then typically a guy like that would be better off playing every day somewhere else. But that's premature."