Mets Release Melky Cabrera, Sign Brian Dozier & Juan Lagares
Two days ahead of their first game of the 2020 MLB season, the New York Mets made a flurry of moves. All involve longtime MLB veterans but don’t necessarily affect their opening day roster.
They brought back Gold Glove outfielder Juan Lagares, who’s only played big league games in a Mets uniform and was on their 2015 World Series squad, and signed former All-Star second baseman Brian Dozier. Last year, Dozier earned a World Series ring as a member of the Washington Nationals, though he failed to record a hit in seven postseason plate appearances. Lagares played 133 games with the Mets last season, hitting just .213 in 285 plate appearances. Per Anthony DiComo, both players will likely begin the season in Brooklyn, the Mets alternate training site.
Neither Brian Dozier nor Juan Lagares are considerations for the Mets' Opening Day roster. They signed under the expectation that they will begin the season at the team's alternate training site in Brooklyn.
Veteran depth, with 15 seasons of big league experience between them.
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) July 22, 2020
In a corresponding move, the Mets released longtime MLB veterans Melky Cabrera and Gordon Beckham. Both went hitless in their lone at-bat in the Mets’ Summer Camp games vs. the Yankees.
The Mets released Melky Cabrera and Gordon Beckham.
Officially, their 60-man player pool stands at 57.
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) July 22, 2020
The Mets 60-man player pool now sits at 57, per DiComo.
New York opens its season with a three-game series against Atlanta.