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Yankees bolster bullpen, Mets add depth
Bronx Bombers resign lefty reliever to strengthen relief corps as Amazins’ bring in outfi elder
Zach
Gewelb
While the Yankees were
busy bolstering their bullpen
by resigning Zach Britton,
the Mets added some much
needed depth in a flurry of
moves last week.
Perhaps the most notable
player coming to Queens as
part the Mets’ transactions
is Keon Broxton, the
backup outfielder obtained
in a trade that sent minor
leaguers Bobby Wahl, Felix
Valerio and Adam Hill to the
Milwaukee Brewers.
Broxton, 28, is known for
his defense in center field,
not his bat, evidenced by a
slash line of .179/.281/.410
with four homers and
11 RBIs in 51 games last
season. In addition to his
stellar defense — Broxton
has 13 defensive runs saved
since 2016, which ranks
14th among all major league
center fielders, according
to Fangraphs — the center
fielder will bring speed to
the Mets’ lineup. He stole 21
bases for the Brewers two
years ago in a full-time role.
But Broxton is not
expected to have a fulltime
role with the Mets,
who have Michael Conforto,
Juan Lagares and Brandon
Nimmo penciled in as the
starters. Star outfielder
Yoenis Cespedes will spend
the beginning of the season
rehabbing, making Broxton
the fourth outfielder and
insurance in case Juan
Lagares can’t stay healthy.
“Keon is a dynamic
outfielder with the ability
to impact the game in the
outfield, on the bases and
with his bat,” General
Manager Brodie Van
Wagenen said in a statement.
“He adds depth to our major
league roster for 2019 and
into the future.”
Mets fans shouldn’t expect
Broxton to play a starring
role this season, but he is
a viable fourth outfielder
capable of taking over games
with his speed and defense
every now and then.
Meanwhile, the Mets —
fresh off of signing Wilson
Ramos — tapped into their
catching depth, trading
backup Kevin Plawecki to
the Indians for two minor
leaguers.
In a separate deal, the
Mets acquired infielder J.D.
Davis and minor leaguer
Cody Bohanek from the
Astros for three farmhands
Keon Broxton will bring his stellar defense to Citi Field after the Mets traded for the center fielder.
AP
as an Wagenen continues to
reshape the organization’s
farm system.
The club also signed
veteran southpaw Hector
Santiago to a minor-league
contract that includes an
invitation to spring training.
Santiago went 6-3 with a 4.50
ERA in 49 appearances —
including seven starts — for
the White Sox last season.
None of these moves on
their own moves the needle
much for the Mets. But it
does give the team some
depth that it desperately
needs.
In the Bronx, the Yankees’
resigning of Britton
strengthens a bullpen that
took a hit when reliever
David Robertson signed with
the Phillies.
The Yankees boasted the
league’s best bullpen last year
and is trying to maintain the
depth necessary to reclaim
the title again in 2019. The
club had traded for Britton
— formerly of the Orioles —
ahead of the trade deadline
last summer. The southpaw
pitched to a 2.88 ERA in 25
innings for the Yankees in
2018 and figures to serve in a
setup role moving forward.
Reach editor Zach Gewelb
by e-mail at zgewelb@
schnepsmedia.com or by
phone at (718) 260–4539.
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