The Mets made a pair of corresponding moves Wednesday afternoon, signing outfielder Juan Lagares and infielder Brian Dozier to minor league contracts. As a result, the Mets released Melky Cabrera and infielder Gordon Beckham.
Currently, the Mets' player pool roster is at 57.
Lagares, 31, signed Feb. 10 with the San Diego Padres. Not listed in the initial player pool for the Padres June 29, Lagares elected free agency last Tuesday.
Lagares to the Mets is a homecoming of sorts. He spent his first seven MLB seasons with the Mets from 2013-19, slashing .254/.297/.365, hitting 25 home runs and bringing in 179 RBI over 716 games.
As a 30-year-old veteran with the Mets for the 2019 season, Lagares slashed .213/.279/.326, belting five homers and knocking in 27 RBI over 133 games.
Dozier, 33, is a second baseman and shortstop most recently with the Padres as well. The Padres cut Dozier last Monday.
Dozier spent the 2019 season with the Washington Nationals, slashing .238/.340/.430 while hitting 20 home runs and bringing in 50 RBI over 135 games. He went to the Nats after splitting the 2018 season with the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Minnesota Twins.
Starting out in Minnesota, Dozier logged seven full MLB seasons with the Twins from 2012-17. In 851 games over that span, Dozier slashed .251/.327/.452 with 151 homers and 439 RBI. He was an All-Star selection for the 2015 season, highlighted by his .236/.307/.444 slash line and 28 homers with 77 RBI.