The Mets lost a tough one last night, falling to the Giants and Madison Bumgarner when Conor Gillaspie blasted a three-run bomb off closer Jeurys Familia. Thus begins an interesting offseason for the organization, which continues to have plenty of major league talent but also faces many questions. The action won’t get underway in earnest for a few weeks, but ESPNNewYork.com’s Adam Rubin provides some important information on some significant players:
- Unsurprisingly, the Mets expect star outfielder Yoenis Cespedes to opt out of the remaining two years of his deal after another outstanding season. Rubin says the team is expressing pessimism about a reunion, but does intend to try after smartly re-signing him last winter. The current thinking is that the Mets will offer something on the same order as Cespedes’s most recent deal, with some front-loaded cash, a relatively modest term of years, and an opt-out after the first season. Whether that’s enough remains to be seen, but may depend upon whether another team is willing to make a truly significant guarantee after watching Cespedes post another top-notch campaign.
- It is clear, Rubin suggests, that Cespedes truly enjoys playing in New York, so perhaps that’s the ace in the hole for Sandy Alderson and co. The Cuban star said last night that he “hope[s]” to return to New York, as Mike Puma of the New York Post tweets, though that’s approximately the same line he has repeated when asked about the subject over the course of the season. All told, it seems possible but hardly likely that the Mets will lay enough cash on the table to bring him back.
- The Mets intend to make Neil Walker a qualifying offer so long as he continues to progress following his back surgery. In fact, it’s possible that the organization will be interested in a multi-year pact with the second baseman, per the report. There could well be some opportunity for such an approach, given that Walker’s upcoming free agency figures to be impacted somewhat by the procedure. Though he has suggested that it’s actually a good thing — it ought to fix a long-standing problem — any uncertainty is problematic when guaranteed money is on the table. And entering the market with draft pick compensation would only increase the risk for Walker. That seems to leave some daylight for a new contract that would keep him in New York for a few years. Rubin notes, too, that Walker has remained involved even after his season ended, suggesting that he truly enjoyed being with the club.
- In some part, the presence of Jay Bruce suggests that the team isn’t fully convinced it can afford Cespedes, as the lefty slugger provides another corner outfield option through his $13MM option. Rubin says the team was already going to commit that cash before Bruce ended his rough second half on a high note. That does begin to tilt the Mets’ lineup to the left side, as both Curtis Granderson and Michael Conforto already feature as southpaw-swinging outfield options. And as Rubin also notes, the late-season return of Lucas Duda makes it nearly certain that he’ll be tendered, plugging another lefty bat in at first base. Duda’s injury-limited campaign means he won’t be owed much of a raise on his $6.725MM salary in his final year of arbitration.
Man, what a tough loss last night
Bring him back to Oakland. We waste 30 million on billy butler why not waste 60-90 on Céspedes who can actually hit. Plus we have our first pick secured so why not try
A’s are in dire need of a LF/CF….
Good luck on getting Cespedes for 60-90M. He’s the premier bat on the market. If he goes to the highest bidder he’ll be getting closer to 140-150M
Cespedes is good but not great. Great arm in the outfield but doesn’t always take the best routes to the ball. He swings and misses way to much to be a #4 hitter. For the price he commands its not worth it to a low budget team.
108k’s for a guy who hit 30hrs. You can’t be serious, right?? Cmon now.
Yeah a 19.9% K% is pretty good for a guy with his power.
The fact that the Mets made it that far with that many injuries to their rotation is impressive, they’ve got nothing to be ashamed about
What are the chances the Mets make a run at one of the upper tier closers after last night?
0%. Reed
I’d still consider Familia an upper tier closer. Mariano blew a WS and a CS save- he’s still the GOAT.
And yes, Familia has blown saves in the playoffs but two of them were 100000% not his fault.
None, they need more guys they can rely on for the fifth sixth and seventh
they should cut Bruce loose (can’t handle ny) and take that 13 mil saved and add it onto Cespedes. Time to spend like a big market team and give him the 9 digit contract.
And i don’t want Walker signing the QO for what..16 mil? if you can negotiate about 2/24, go for it. otherwise… take a roll on Rivera sticking it through the whole year. He impressed me over the past couple of months..
Well if they don’t offer Walker the QO he has much more appeal to other teams.
My own observation is that Bruce could be better next year. But, keep in mind he has always been streaky. I think a lot of his struggles had to do with being away from home and not seeing his family for months. I heard he lived in 6 different hotels since he got to Mets. This can make it hard for anyone but his bounce back could mean he righted the ship.
#LGM
2000. 4-1! Lol
Cespedes has literally stated he enjoys playing in every city he has played in, Oakland, Detroit, Boston – can sports writers just stop fishing for this tired, totally meaningless cliche?
I guess he’s just an overall happy guy lol
As long as there’s several golf courses nearby, he’ll be happy.
as a braves fan im ok with familia’s performace in the post season.
Cespedes to the Orioles
It would be nice to get him so they could have a solid right fielder but I think I would prefer them get Reddick. He’s younger, lefty (which the O’s need), and is an actual right fielder.
Céspedes enjoys playing in any city and on any team who would be willing to giving him a big contracts on his own terms… This time around… maybe Arte would be willing to open up his wallet and bring in onces and for all the left fielder who Ian badly needed …
Worked out great with Hamilton.
“Who is badly needed..” I can’t type this morning ….
bring Cespedes to san francisco. what an upgrade on pagan that would be.
Can’t win a ballgame by scoring zero runs. Mets offense is bleak already and to imagine life after Cespedes is just saddening.
As others have said it, the Mets need to spend like the big market team they are and bring in some bats!!!
Cespedes to Marlins trade bour, adeiny, and detriech for a starter and move Ozuna or Stanton to 1B preferably Stanton to minimize injuries that he is having
Wat, no, he’s going to be a free agent, bro. Meaning you don’t have to trade for him, you just pay him lots of money to play for you.
Unless he doesn’t opt out, in which case mets don’t trade him for squat.
Well, on second thought I guess you meant Cespedes to Marlins as a FA and then trade the others. Some punctuation would have helped lol
Who wouldve thought that Familia’s second homer given up on the year would be a game winner to Gillaspie in the wild card game? Gotta love baseball
Cespedes will be the 2017 Left fielder for the San Francisco Giants. SF will add him and a top flight closer.
That’s a lot of money to add
Sounds great to me!!!
I am actually not as worried about the outfield, I think that there needs to be some more playing time for mac and parker to really vet them out but the bullpen is a huge need since there are going to be multiple positions to replace, not just a closer since besides the holes that were apparent this year romo, lopez are most likely going (or lopez retiring).
Mets are so boned without Cespedes. They need to part ways with Bruce, give Walker a QO and hope he declines and find a new approach for next year. Homer or nothing is not the way.
The Brewers need to hear that from you and let Chris Carter walk lol.
The Mets have greater concerns than Cespedes.
While it isn’t the glamorous option, some combination of Granderson, Bruce, Conforto, Lagares and Nimmo could be run out there next season.
On the flip side, they can’t afford another season of negligible offensive production from catcher and first base, and Jose Reyes is not a long term solution to the David Wright void.
Why do we keep talking as if the Mets were a small market team?????
Because they ARE.
Cespedes will be a Cardinal
How does a New York team not have money? What are they going to do when all there young pitchers start making real money?
Cespedes and melancon this offseason for Giants and I’m a happy camper
Sale the A’s to the Warriors ownership… Eager to win, dynamic business-minded group… Billy Bean would probably be offered his job back and with the green light to spend well then the A’s can get Cespedes, no doubt…
I think Cespedes goes to the Cards or Giants next year, they have contending teams that will pay him more than the Mets. The Mets need Cespedes to be in the mix next year, but won’t get him cheap.