While the scorching post-trade production of Yoenis Cespedes had many Mets fans hoping the team would be able to find a way to re-sign him. However, a team official tells ESPN New York’s Adam Rubin that while the Mets will embark on a modest pursuit of Cespedes once he hits the open market, it’s highly likely that the slugger will sign elsewhere this winter. Cespedes hit a strong .287/.337/.604 with 17 homers in 249 plate appearances for the Mets, but a shoulder injury slowed his production late in the season, as did a fastball to the left hand in a Sept. 30 at-bat against the Phillies. Slow finish aside, Cespedes probably still has a six-year deal awaiting him on the open market, and it’s tough to see the Mets outbidding the rest of the field based on their history in free agency.
A few more notes pertaining to the NL Champs…
- Daniel Murphy professed how much he’s enjoyed being a member of the Mets to Newsday’s Marc Carig, but the team isn’t likely to match the four-year offers he’s expected to command on the open market, Carig writes. The Mets do feel that Murphy has fundamentally improved as a hitter, he continues, but with a possible long-term option in Dilson Herrera, Murphy is expected to depart. Sources tell Carig that the Mets could look to re-sign Kelly Johnson to serve as a bridge to Herrera, though, especially since Johnson could spell David Wright at third base on occasion.
- Rubin tweets that it “sounds like” the Mets will retain Addison Reed via arbitration this winter and deploy him in a setup capacity next year. Reed is projected by MLBTR to earn $5.7MM in arbitration, though Rubin’s tweet seems to indicate that the Mets are comfortable with that range. He notes that the team still could use an additional late-inning arm.
- There’s a “growing thought” within the organization that it would be beneficial for Travis d’Arnaud to learn a second position to expand his versatility, Carig tweets. I’d imagine that would entail corner outfield or first base, though d’Arnaud has virtually no experience at either position. There was some talk in 2014 and earlier this season about d’Arnaud getting some reps in left field, and it seems that conversation could again resurface.
- Carig also tweets that of all the Mets’ free agents, Johnson and left-hander Jerry Blevins are the only two that are “expected” to return. Blevins tossed just four innings for the Mets this year before suffering a fractured arm on a come-back line drive to the mound. He was working his way through rehab when he slipped and fell off a curb, re-fracturing in the arm and resulting in surgery. GM Sandy Alderson picked up Blevins in exchange for outfielder Matt den Dekker last spring and saw the lefty retire the first 15 batters he faced before suffering the initial injury. With left-handed relief still an area of need and Blevin’s asking price likely on the low side, it makes sense that the Mets would want to bring him back.
- MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo runs down the club’s offseason position by position, noting that the Mets will probably cut ties with twice-suspended Jenrry Mejia this winter and also speculating on Colby Rasmus and Denard Span as potential fits in center field. Either would give Juan Lagares a platoon partner, though I personally wonder if the club would at least consider the possibility of running with Span or even Dexter Fowler full-time, then trading Lagares or using him as a fourth outfielder while his yearly salary is still modest. That, of course, is just speculation on my behalf though.
Of course Murphy is a flawed player who doesnt fit Aldersons ideal mold. However, he can hit and would be a valuable piece as a backup 3b to David Wright and his back, as well as backup 1b or even to start there until Dom Smith is ready if they choose to trade Duda, who looks better on paper than in a batting order. Herrera looks like hell be the 2b of the future, but his bat may be another year away. And while Murphy doesnt walk, neither does he strike out and he is one of the few mets who really grind out ABs – two characteristics that Sandy does value. I doubt Murphy will demand THAT big of a deal. Bye bye Yoenis! Thanks for August and September. Dont forget your clubs on the way out. And invest in a travel bag; I have a feeling you’re not moving for the last time.
4/50 for a backup, that would be more money tied up on the bench than the starting OF
That’s the luxury afforded by two young and inexpensive outfielders, Lagares and Conforto. In that position, Murphy would be a movable, but every day player, probably getting more than 550 AB
Yoenis has turned into quite the floater through various MLB teams. While he helped the Mets get to the WS, he sure didn’t help them much IN the WS.
the first two sentences are hard to read…
The Mets definitely need an upgrade at catcher. TdA looked terrible in the WS. His throws to 2B had no chance and his inability to block critical balls in the dirt gave the Royals more opportunities. I have not seen him much but if his WS performance is indicative of his everyday performance, a change is needed.
TdA is an offense-first catcher. You take the sub-average catching because he’s a very good hitter. Granted, he wore down this year and didn’t hit late in the playoffs.
I don’t recall which ‘critical balls’ he couldn’t block (he’s pretty good at that, imo), but I agree that his arm needs a lot of work. Every Royals single or walk guaranteed that they’d be standing on second within a few pitches.
Not a bad plan for Lagares, but his first order of business should be to get TJ surgery or whichever surgery he needs to fix his arm. It bothered him all season and drastically cut down his ability to throw. A healthy Lagares with Conforto and Granderson is a pretty good outfield.
Also, would love to see the Mets make a little push for Desmond (but I doubt I will). It would all depend on how teams view his season last year. He was atrocious for the first few months but rebounded nicely. If other teams have written him off due to the first half, he could be a good buy-low candidate and you could move Flores to second where he belongs (with Herrera in the wings).
With over 20 errors, Desmond is no improvement over Flores at SS, particularly given Flores’ ongoing improvement at the plate and with the glove. d’Arnaud actually has been quite good behind the plate with the glove, though his arm certainly wilted in October. However, the way the game is played today, only the Royals really use the stolen base extensively so a weak throwing catcher is more tolerable than it was in the ’60’s-’80’s. I do wish Lagares would bite the bullet and get the elbow fixed definitively. With the arm he had and the way he hit when healthy, he was an every day CF, not just part of a platoon.