Mets activate Juan Lagares from disabled list

The Mets have activated Juan Lagares from the disabled list, filling the roster spot freed up by last night's trade of Jay Bruce to the Cleveland Indians. The center fielder is in uniform and will be available off the bench for tonight’s game in Philadelphia. Lagares had been out since June 16, when he fractured his thumb in an effort to make a diving catch against the Washington Nationals. He had been rehabbing over the past week at the Mets’ Double-A affiliate in Binghamton.

The Bruce trade cleared a huge outfield logjam in Flushing, and while early presumption would be of an outfield consisting largely of Yoenis Cespedes, Curtis Granderson, and Michael Conforto, it might behoove the Mets—clearly playing for 2018—to get some idea how a Lagares/Brandon Nimmo platoon in center might work.

Much initial speculation centered on the possibility that top post-Rosario prospect Dominic Smith would get the call after Bruce's trade. However, fans frustrated that this was not the case won’t have to wait long to see Smith get the call.