New York Mets add their center fielder in Keon Broxton

The New York Mets had a possible hole in center field. Not anymore.

As the calendar had turned to 2019, the New York Mets still had several question marks on the roster. While new general manager Brodie Van Wagenen had been aggressive in upgrading the roster, there were still areas of weakness. One of those was in center field, where the light hitting Juan Lagares has been an excellent defensive player, but unable to stay healthy. Health is a concern with Yoenis Cespedes as well, who may miss the entire 2019 campaign due to his heel issues.

However, Van Wagenen has proven that he is not one to sit around. Indeed, he has helped fill out the Mets outfield depth, and possibly found his center fielder for the season, acquiring Keon Broxton in a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers.

In Broxton, the Mets have added another excellent defensive center fielder, albeit with more pop than Lagares. Prior to being relegated to a bench role in Milwaukee last season, he had displayed some promise with the bat, producing a .220/.299/.420 batting line with 20 homers and 21 steals. However, after the acquisitions of Lorenzo Cain and Christian Yelich, Broxton was superfluous in Milwaukee.

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A trio of prospects are heading back to the Brewers. The Mets are sending Bobby Wahl, Adam Hill, and Felix Valerio back to Milwaukee. Wahl has already displayed a good deal of promise as a reliever in the minors, posting a 3.53 ERA and a 1.268 WHiP, striking out 292 batters in 221.2 innings. While his Fastball/slider mix has not led to the same success in the majors to this point, he is another high octane arm in what has rapidly become the best bullpen in the game.

Hill made his professional debut in 2018 after being drafted in the fourth round by the Mets. In his nine appearances spanning 15.1 innings, the 21 year old posted a 2.35 ERA and a 1.500 WHiP. While he struck out an astounding 26 batters, he also issued seven walks and 16 hits, leaving plenty of room for growth.

Valerio is much further away, having spent the entire 2018 campaign in the Dominican Summer League. The 18 year old second baseman acquitted himself reasonably well, producing a .319/.409/.433 batting line with 17 doubles and 16 steals.

The New York Mets have continued to fill the holes on their roster, with Keon Broxton their latest addition. Brodie Van Wagenen is certainly fulfilling his promise that the Mets will contend, at least on paper thus far.