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.