The Mets have not opened contract talks with outfielder Yoenis Cespedes in advance of his opt-out decision, which is due on Saturday, according to ESPNNewYork.com’s Adam Rubin. Cespedes will reportedly turn down the two years and $47.5MM remaining on his contract and instead re-enter the open market.
While there are still a few days to try some last-minute bargaining, it seems that the club is resigned to allowing Cespedes to test the market. There is still interest in a return, but the Mets also seem to have a realistic appraisal of how the veteran’s own interests align with the team’s willingness to spend.
New York isn’t particularly interested in striking a lengthier deal, says Rubin, with the team not even inclined to go to four years to retain their best offensive producer. It seems that the Mets are still not convinced that Cespedes would provide the desired everyday effort if given that kind of deal.
It remains to be seen what the market will bear, but other teams were reportedly willing to guarantee Cespedes five years last winter. He’s a year older now, but also has another season of top-notch production under his belt. All told, Cespedes seems positioned to achieve at least five guaranteed seasons at a rather lofty salary as the best available free agent.
What’s most interesting about the Mets’ situation, perhaps, is the question of how the club will balance ongoing interest with Cespedes with the need to go in an alternative direction if that doesn’t come about. Presumably, New York will adopt a wait-and-see strategy as it did last winter. That approach led the team to sign Alejandro De Aza earlier in the market, and he ended up being a largely superfluous piece.
This time, the Mets will need to add a right-handed-hitting piece if Cespedes isn’t brought back, Rubin suggests. While the club hopes Lucas Duda will play more or less everyday at first, he says, a righty bat could be added to pair at first and provide an option in a corner outfield mix that is also dominated by lefties. Expectations are that any new addition would be relatively “modest,” per Rubin.
Interestingly, also, the Mets could also revisit the idea of utilizing Jose Reyes on the outfield grass. The switch-hitting infielder has never played there as a professional outside of a single appearance in Rookie ball at 17 years of age. But he could be utilized in a ranging utility role, per the report, at least so long as David Wright is able to take back over at third and Neil Walker (or some other player) is added to handle second.
Dodgers need to grab this guy and commit to Puig to balance out the lefty-heavy lineup.
They are done committing to Puig. He’s an average player with above average talent. It’s plain to see he’s been tied up with above average fb since 2014 and hasn’t made an adjustment. He was outplayed by two rookies in Thompson and Toles. He’s clearly expandable especially with Verdugo, Bellinger, and Calhoun knocking on the door. Puig is getting traded this offseason. It sucks because I like the guy but like Doc it’s a production sport.
They better come up with a brand new offense is they think it’s wise to take the “wait and see” approach again.
There are far too many holes with Cespedes out of the lineup.
They will let him walk and target Dexter Fowler. Wish my Cardinals would at least kick the tires on Cespedes. We could use a higher energy guy in the club house. Not to mention and actual #3 hitter.
1. Carpenter 1B
2. Diaz SS
3. Cespedes CF
4. Piscotty RF
5. Gyorko 2B
6. Perlata 3B
7. Molina C
8. Grichuk LF
9. Pitcher
Switch grichuk to center and cespedes to left because he is a liability in center.
Could be, the Cards have money to spend with their new TV contract
Cespedes made it clear in August or so that he won’t play center anymore. It took a toll on him.
Scoring runs was not STL’s problem this year. They finished third in the NL in that dept. Getting Cespedes doesn’t make the Cards better defensively which WAS their problem this year. Cespedes isn’t that great with the glove and combine that with guys like Diaz, Peralta, Wong, Adams, Carpenter means you give up more runs. One of the ways Whitey made the Redbirds a title contender was by trading away good bats like Templeton and Simmons and getting Ozzie, Porter, Herr, McGee up the middle, making an average pitching staff better.
So what are we looking at contract-wise for a 3.2WAR 134 wRC+ .369wOBA player?
5 year 135-150 with an option for 6th?
Im sure he would sign with a contending team at 5 years 125-127M
Damn he had a -10.6UZR in CF and a 3.9UZR in LF. What were the Mets doing putting him in CF???
Conforto, Granderson and Bruce are exclusively corners guys, and Juan Lagares can’t play everyday. That’s why I think we need Dexter Fowler and Duda or Bruce traded, we have too many Corner Outfielders (most could probably play 1B) and that forced a guy like Ces to center, where he didn’t belong.
I wonder if they buyout Bruce for the $1mil or keep him and pay $13mil. He was so bad in New York.
Also I’d hate to see what their UZR in CF would have been haha
Let’s face it, the Mets will win with pitching not their hitting even if they sign Cespedes. The Nats look to be a more balanced team again, and I’m sure they are not standing pat this winter.
Crowded corners. Wanted to get as many bats in the line up as they could. Lagares got hurt, De Aza wasn’t good, Ruggiano got hurt immediately…
Well…. They always have Tim Tebow LOL
Based on Mets logic of giving him a 100k bonus, it wouldn’t surprise me if they promote him. Because based on their logic a .140 hitter in AFL warrants a promotion. What a joke by the Mets front office.
Don’t use UZR as a definitive answer to how well a guy plays his position. Pre pitch positioning, Pre series meetings on how players are pitched/played has as much to do with UZR ratings outcome. Player’s ability and skill set are the most important factors but the other parts of the equation I mentioned above play a huge role in UZR scores.
Just a hunch, but I think the Mets would be satisfied with the return if he left. They haven’t been fans of spending a lot, and Cespedes will get a lot.
Cards sign cespedes, trade grichuk, weaver, flaherty, bader, sierra to rays for longoria and kiermaier.
Carp 1b
Diaz ss
Piscotty rf
Cespedes LF
Longoria 3b
Yadi c
Gyorko 2b
Pitcher
Kiermaier cf
Why don’t you just grab Archer and Odirizzi while your at it. Toss in Matt Adams
Giants should get cespedes. They need someone who can play LF and a power bat. He is a perfect fit SF