New York Mets receiving trade interest in Alejandro De Aza

Though he only signed with the New York Mets last December, OF Alejandro De Aza could soon find yet another new home.

Alejandro De Aza is coming off a well-traveled 2015 season. The veteran outfielder spent time with the Orioles, Red Sox and Giants over the course of the year. The upcoming campaign looks like it may start in similarly nomadic fashion.

De Aza signed a one-year, $5.75 million contract with the New York Mets in late December, when the club seemed very unlikely to retain the services of Yoenis Cespedes. The 31-year-old De Aza would presumably have split time in the outfield with Juan Lagares.

Of course, the Mets unexpectedly brought Cespedes back into the fold, throwing De Aza’s role into question. According to ESPN’s Adam Rubin, the outfielder is drawing some legitimate interest on the trade front:

Rubin goes on to say that the Mets would prefer to deal De Aza to a team willing to pick up the entirety of his 2016 salary. In addition, since he was signed this offseason, the Mets would need to get De Aza’s approval if they try to trade him before June 15.

De Aza slashed .262/.333/.422 with seven home runs and 35 RBIs in 114 games last year. His three-month stint with the Red Sox from June through August featured his best play of the campaign, as he posted an. 831 OPS (along with four of his homers and 24 RBIs) in 178 plate appearances for Boston.

De Aza has been a league average hitter for the most part throughout his eight-year major league career, a notion backed up by his career 101 OPS+. Since becoming a full-time player in 2012 he owns a .265/.330/.405 line while average 10 home runs and 47 RBIs per season. His most productive spell at the plate came in 2013 with the White Sox when he belted 17 long balls and drove in 62 runs.

As a left-handed bat with markedly better splits against righties, De Aza certainly has some appeal as a platoon outfielder. He has also typically been good for around 20 stolen bases a year, although that element of his game suffered last season with only seven steals.

The Rangers were reportedly eyeing De Aza last month, although their plans evidently changed with the signing of Ian Desmond to play left field. De Aza has experience manning all three outfield positions, making him a potentially versatile piece for clubs looking to bolster their options.

Though the Mets don’t have much of an outright need for De Aza at the moment, they don’t necessarily have to rush to unload him either. Injuries can strike quickly and without warning in the spring, so what once looked like excess depth can suddenly appear quite thin.

Next: 5 top hitters struggling this spring

In any case, it looks like De Aza’s stay in New York could indeed be a very brief one.