Mets injury update: Juan Lagares to have elbow examined by doctor

Former Gold Glove center fielder Juan Lagares is having his elbow looked at later today. Lagares has been playing dealing with soreness in the elbow for at least a year. He gained a reputation for having a cannon of an arm in the early stages of his major league career, a facet of his game stymied by the injury.

Amid concerns that the Mets would be better off shutting him down for the season, the 26-year-old played injured, conceding at-bats to Michael Conforto and Yoenis Cespedes after the trade deadline. Lagares hit just .259/.289/.358 in 465 plate appearances in the regular season. He struggled terribly against right-handed pitching but hit well against lefties.

When it comes to potential elbow surgery, one consideration certainly seems to be a recovery timetable, as any surgery would likely keep Lagares out well into the 2016 season. While Curtis Granderson and Michael Conforto can be relied upon to man the corner outfield spots on an everyday basis, the Mets would need to acquire a center fielder to take Lagares's place in center.