The New York Mets have no immediate plans to look outside the organization if backup center fielder Juan Lagares is unavailable on Opening Day, likely leaving Michael Conforto in line for a roster spot, reports Marc Carig of Newsday.
Lagares strained his left oblique in Saturday’s Grapefruit League game against the Braves and is scheduled to have an MRI on Monday. If Lagares lands on the disabled list, the Mets' best option is to turn to Conforto, who is hitting .340 this spring and is a backup option in center field behind Curtis Granderson.
The 24-year-old Conforto is the odd man out in the crowded outfield of Yoenis Cespedes in left, Granderson in center and Jay Bruce, and the Mets seemed prepared to have him start the season in Triple-A Las Vegas in order to get him regular at-bats. The injury to Lagares, however, could change that plan.
Veteran Drew Stubbs opted out of his minor league deal with the Twins on Sunday, but MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo tweets the Mets "don’t sound interested" and will instead hope for "a speedy recovery" by Lagares.
- Doug Mittler
