NEW YORK — Outfielder Alejandro De Aza and the New York Mets have agreed to a $5.75 million, one-year contract, pending a physical, according to person familiar with the negotiations.
The person spoke Tuesday on condition of anonymity because the agreement had not been announced. The deal contains an additional $1.25 million in performance bonuses.
The 31-year-old De Aza bats left-handed and could platoon in center field with right-handed-hitting Juan Lagares.
De Aza batted .262 this year with seven homers — all off right-handers — and 35 RBIs in 365 plate appearances for the Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox and San Francisco Giants. Lagares hit .253 against right-handers, 20 points under his average against lefties.
New York has been seeking an outfielder in place of Yoenis Cespedes, who became a free agent after helping the Mets reach the World Series for the first time since 2000.
Thumbnail photo via Gregory J. Fisher/USA TODAY Sports Images
