Mark Simon of ESPN NY wrote about the value of Mets centerfielder Angel Pagan over the weekend. If the All Star starters were selected by using Wins Above Replacement (WAR), then Angel Pagan would be the NL centerfielder. Hard to believe, as Pagan didn’t even start on opening day for the Mets. It got me to thinking how there are many parallels between Pagan and the Phillies Shane Victorino.

One of the reasons for the Phillies success was finding productive and inexpensive complements to their core of Howard, Utley, and Rollins. Both Shane Victorino and Jayson Werth are perfect examples of that. In the case of Victorino he was selected by the Phillies from San Diego in the Rule V draft in 2004. This was the second time that happened as the Dodgers had done the same a year earlier. Over five years later Victorino has won two gold gloves, played in an All Star Game, and is one of the better centerfielders today.

Angel Pagan started his career in the Mets system, but was sold to the Cubs before the 2006 season. His attitude and baseball instincts were in question throughout his early Mets career and frustrated Lou Piniella in Chicago. After two seasons with the Cubs they sold him back to the Mets in 2008. He made the team out of spring training and was playing every day due to an injury to Moises Alou. If not for a May injury at Dodger Stadium he probably would have received significant playing time. Injuries seemed to always hold Pagan back throughout the last few years.

Today he is the Mets starting centerfielder and having the same impact as Victorino does with the Phillies. He is hitting .302 with 4 homers and 23 RBI after last night’s action. He is actually having a better season than the aforementioned Phillie. Most important, he has minimized his mental mistakes on the base paths and has improved defensively in the outfield. He may not be Carlos Beltran, but right now is better than most, if not all, National League centerfielders.

If Carlos Beltran returns I believe Pagan will supplant Jeff Francoeur as the everyday right fielder. That statement would have been ludicrous if made just a few weeks ago. Beltran’s time with the Mets is finite and rumor has it the team will attempt to trade Carlos this offseason if he is healthy. There may not be another Carlos Beltran roaming centerfield for the Mets anytime soon, but Pagan looks to be a more than adequate replacement. If he continues to play at the level of Shane Victorino I will say the Mets have found themselves a nice complementary piece to their core for a bargain basement price.

Tags: Angel Pagan, Carlos Beltran, ESPN NY, Mark Simon, Philadelphia Phillies, Shane Victorino