The Padres have signed Juan Lagares to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training, per Jon Heyman.
Lagares gets 1.4M plus incentives if in majors #padres
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) February 11, 2020
The deal includes $1.4 million in incentives if he makes the majors.
In his career, the 30-year-old Lagares has a .254 batting average with 25 home runs, 179 runs batted in, and 44 stolen bases with a .659 OPS. The Dominican Republic native has had an injury-riddled career but has shown flashes of potential, especially on defense. Lagares won a gold glove back in 2014 and has always shown excellent range in center field.
It makes sense that the Padres signed a center fielder right after trading away Manuel Margot to the Padres. Without a clear-cut center fielder, Lagares could find his way onto the Opening Day roster with a strong spring training.
