The New York Mets have a good problem with their surplus of outfielders, but manager Terry Collins will likely have a tough time maximizing at-bats for everyone, most notably Michael Conforto and Juan Lagares.
Collins didn't have that issue to begin the season because the Mets were on the road against the Kansas City Royals, which meant that he could insert someone in the designated hitter spot. However, normalcy will be restored over their next six games when they face the Philadelphia Phillies and Miami Marlins.
Conforto, 23, is clearly ready to handle everyday MLB duties, but Lagares, who is 20-25 pounds lighter than last year, has seemingly returned to form as a Gold Glove outfielder. Conforto is 2-for-6 with a double and two walks, and Lagares is 2-for-5 with a run scored so far.
The problem is that Lagares signed a five-year, $23 million contract extension last year, and if his defense mirrors his 2014 performance, then he'd be a luxury in center field.
It won't be easy for Collins to find ample playing time for both, as the club has Yoenis Cespedes and Curtis Granderson on the roster, in addition to backup Alejandro De Aza.
"The play of Lagares and Conforto is a great sign for the Mets but a dilemma for Terry Collins, who can't have both of them in the lineup when he is penciling Yoenis Cespedes into the No. 3 spot," writes John Harper of the New York Daily News.
"The manager's plan now seems to be to start Lagares in center against lefthanded pitching, and move Cespedes to left.
"One solution might be to play Conforto in right field some days, especially if Curtis Granderson struggles against lefties again as he did last season, hitting .183 against them."
Perhaps some games Collins will favor offense over defense, and vice-versa, which would create more playing time for both. The manager has already raved about Conforto's ability to hit, and he's likely ecstatic that Lagares has seemingly made strides after his issues last season.
Whatever the case, the Mets will have plenty of outfielders to choose from. It'll just have to be managed properly.
