Angel Pagan

2013

Subscribe now to see our 2013 outlook.

2012

Pagan was a pleasant surprise in the absence of Carlos Beltran in 2010, hitting .290/.340/.425 while playing a solid center field in Flushing. It all went down the toilet in 2011, however, as Pagan dealt with injuries, limiting him to just 123 games, and posted a poor .262/.322/.372 line in 478 at-bats, partially explained by a 44-point drop in BABIP. With only one year of control remaining, the Mets traded him to San Francisco in December. The outfield was a major weak point for the Giants last year, so look for Pagan to compete for the starting job in center field and at worst provide some speed in San Francisco.

2011

In the nightmare that was the Mets' season, one of the few positives might have been the play of Pagan. Even though he failed to open the year as the starting center fielder in Carlos Beltran's absence, Pagan quickly earned the role and never gave it back. Pagan built off the breakout year he had in 2009, showing better recognition of game situations with a decent power-speed combination, delivering 37 stolen bases in the process. After the return of Beltran, Pagan saw time at all three outfield positions, but should mostly play center and right as a fixture in the 2011 lineup.

2010

Pagan entered spring training recovering from surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder the prior July, then needed arthroscopic surgery in mid-March to repair a bone spur in his right elbow that sidelined him two months. Upon being activated and promoted to the majors, Pagan had a solid two weeks, then strained his groin and landed on the DL for a month. Pagan returned with a bang, hitting for average and showing good speed filling in for Carlos Beltran, but his mental errors in the field and on the bases likely mean that he will enter 2010 as the team's fourth outfielder.

2009

Pagan, who returned to the Mets in January 2008, parlayed a strong spring into a starting spot in left field while Moises Alou was out. Pagan had a solid first month, but was then injured in early May when he flipped over a retaining wall at Dodger Stadium while catching a foul ball. The Mets had hoped he would return after a rehab stint, but Pagan, a switch hitter, was unable to bat from the right side during his brief rehab stint. He will enter spring training with a chance to earn the fourth or fifth outfield spot in New York.

2008

Pagan's seen some at-bats the last couple seasons due to his ability to play all three positions in the Cubs' unsettled outfield, but his skills make him a fourth or fifth outfielder at best. Pagan doesn't hit for average and doesn't walk enough to make up for it. He raised his slugging slightly in 2007, but a slight uptick in a 148-at-bat sample shouldn't be taken too seriously. He was traded to the Mets in the offseason and will compete for a reserve role.

2007

Pagan saw some time in the outfield last season, platooning occasionally with Matt Murton. Oddly enough, Murton hit better against righties, his weaker split, than Pagan did, even though it’s by far his stronger one. And of course, Murton is strong against lefties and Pagan can't hit them at all. Pagan doesn't have much power, and his occasional walk-drawing is outweighed by his poor contact skills and consequent low batting average. There's some loose talk that Pagan could see at-bats in center field, if the Cubs trade Jacque Jones, but he looks like a fifth outfielder to us. It would be a shame if Lou Piniella allows him to get at-bats against righties at Murton's expense.

2006

Pagan, who was drafted in the fourth round way back in 1999, forced his way into the team's plans with a fine 2004. But last year, all of his averages and his K/BB ratio and SB/CS fell. Part of it could be a sore throwing arm that bothered him during the first half. His speed is his main asset, but Pagan is behind fellow teammate Wayne Lydon in that department. With Carlos Beltran in center field and Lastings Milledge slated to handle one of the corner positions, Pagan may need a trade to get a shot at the majors.

2005

Pagan, who was drafted in the fourth round of the 1999 draft, was not thought of as a major prospect entering the 2004 season. He forced himself into the team's future plans, however, and will start 2005 at Triple-A Norfolk. Speed is his main asset but he finds himself behind teammate Wayne Lydon in that department, which may force him to be dealt to another team to get a shot at the major leagues.