In a since-deleted Instagram video posted by minor-league Mets coach (and long-time former big leaguer) Endy Chavez, rehabbing slugger Yoenis Cespedes is shown taking batting practice. MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo covered things via Twitter.
While this fleeting glance at Cespedes doesn’t really tell us much, it’s the first meaningful look at his progress in quite some time. Serious heel and other leg injuries cost Cespedes huge chunks of the 2017-18 campaigns and all of 2019. All told, he has played in just 119 games since the close of his strong 2016 season.
Cespedes has continued to hit when available, and he’s still being paid quite handsomely for one more season ($29.5MM), so the club has an obvious interest in getting him back on the field. At times it seemed a late-2019 return might have been possible, but there was never anything close to a run-up towards the majors.
GM Brodie Van Wagenen seemingly downplayed the likelihood of a significant contribution in 2020 when he addressed the matter recently, saying that lacks “enough information to predict when [Cespedes is] going to be back.” Of course, there is one other way to read that. The Mets understandably don’t want to set expectations and surely also would like to keep things quiet when it comes to negotiating with rivals and free agents.
All of that is to say: if indeed Cespedes is presently capable of swinging the stick, even if in a limited BP setting, that seems to be good and rather notable news. As I noted in discussing the Mets’ offseason outlook earlier today, the complexion of the outfield could look quite a bit different if Cespedes is part of the picture — especially if he can show enough to be relied upon right out of Spring Training. It’s not hard at all to imagine rather significant impacts on the team’s offseason maneuvering based upon the status of Cespedes, though certainly the organization will need to be wary of presuming too much about his health.
Hes gonna play this year, hes had over a year for his foot issues to heal. I’m sure hes looking to secure at least 1 more payday, and a bounceback year would afford him that opportunity. Mets GM was coy but I had a feeling all along he would be suiting up sooner rather than later.
He is 34 so unless he is tired of baseball, he is going to want to play beyond 2020. He may have to take it year by year, given his injury history, but a lot of healthy guys his age have to do that. Look for a big year from Cespedes.
A Cespedes for the rest of us.
You are right tigerdoc. Cespedes is excited about the 2020 season. You can see it in the photo that was attached to this article.
Oh on second thought that photo shows that Cespedes looks bored and could give a s h – t about the team, the fans, his teammates nor winning.
A year to rest the heel surgery, but only been 6 months since he wrecked his ankle on his ranch.
Yep, all the time off can really help get a guy ready for fully functional life, unless that life is MLB life.
What we see on the field every night is the product of a whole day’s hard work. It is a grind and heel and foot injuries just don’t get better enough to allow a guy to play a full season in the field.
Ask Tulo.
Cespedes desperately needs to be a DH if he wants to keep going. If he is hot out of the gate, the Mets would be doing him a huge favor by shopping him to the AL.
Planter fasciitis didn’t help Pujols decline. He could hardly run and I’m talking back in his Cardinal days
Nimmo
Cespedes
McNeil
Alonso
Cano
Conforto/Davis
Ramos
Rosario
Semien
Laureano
Chappy
Olson
KD
Piscotty
Brown/Canha
Murphy
Profar
Kingery 2B
Segura SS
Harper RF
Hoskins 1B
Realmuto C
Moustakas 3B
McCutchen LF
Marte/Kiermaier/Buxton CF
Arraez 2B
Polanco SS
Cruz DH
Kepler RF
Sano 3B
Rosario LF
Garver C
Gonzales 1B
Buxton CF
Buxton last? I thought his offense improved? Again, feeling lazy today.
Also, based on my keen Inspector Gadget detective skills I’m assuming you’re a Twins fan. What was the rationale for building an outdoor stadium? Strictly money?
OF McNeil
1B Alonso
OF Cespedes
3B Lowrie
OF Davis/Conforto
2B Cano
C Ramos
SS Rosario
Don’t know enough and too lazy to look up McNeil’s OF defense. With deGrom, Stroman and Thor, maybe this is the year.
I gather you are assuming Nimmo (and Smith) will be traded. Lowrie will be a utility infielder and will switch off with McNeil and/or Davis. McNeil will be an every day player.
4th place finish for the Mets
Anderson
moncada
Abreu
Jimenez
castianos
collins
Robert
McCann
madrigal
This should get to 73 wins, IF they get the bullpen straightened out.
Madrigal should be Ronald Torreyes, like.
so 1 more win than last season?
Uh, Castellanos.
Hayes
Taylor
Dorn
Cerrano
Tomlinson
Whoever played 1B
FELIX FERMIN
I dunno, Jeff Treadway?
PASTE from NJ
You forgot the Japanese guy from ML2 and ML3
No marbles!
Betts
Trout
Rendon
Lindor
Contreras
Ohtani
Upton
TsuTsugo
Fletcher
Cole Stras Wheeler Heaney Ohtani
Angel’s looking deep
So the Angels will sign the top 3 pitching free agents, the top hitter, a Japanese import, AND trade for Betts, Lindor, and Contreras? That’s at least $120m/year just for the plus another $30-$40m for the 3 traded players annually….
Harry Truman
Dorris Day
Red China
Johnny Ray
South Pacific
Walter Winchell
Joe DiMaggio
Joe McCarthy
Richard Nixon
Studebaker
Television
North Korea
South Korea
Marilyn Monroe
LOL very good made my day thanks !!!!
Solid line up right there
FYI the video itself (in its not-deleted form) is nested deep within that same Twitter thread you already linked to. In case you want to edit that in.
twitter.com/LifeOfTimReilly/status/119683813282774…
Nice. Thanks.
Better than the standard Mets form of diagnosis report. “he’s fine, He is fully able, this is only precautionary and we expect him to play in 5 days”…… 5 days later we learn the player is out for the season
If I’m not mistaken, isn’t there some financial forfeiture if he doesn’t play in ‘x’ amount of games?
He pretty much plays when (and as hard as) he wants to.
I think his k. was fully guaranteed. Mets could have saved money if he didn’t play in x amount of games, insurance would kick in.
We don’t know the specifics of his insurance policy but the Mets are playing it safe with the fans and media. I think the Mets would welcome him back as he has been productive when healthy. If they fall out of contention next year, they can trade him and cash for some prospects with a contender.
Similar situation with Hunter Pence after he got his big payday in SF. Couldn’t seem to stay healthy and in the rarity that he was healthy he couldn’t produce. Got signed to a minor league deal in Texas and ended up playing like a beast. Could see the same with Cespedes either in 2020 or in 2021 when he signs another contract.
Maybe the Mets are collecting insurance money and would rather Cespedes sit down for the season of most of it.
It’s probably all John Middleton’s fault, that cheap SOB.
They are getting about 75% back in insurance if he doesn’t play. I don’t know why no ones mentioning that if the Mets have to pony up all of Cespedes’ salary there is no way they are spending on much else this year. Between Wright and Cespedes they were pocketing 25- 35 mill each year of the teams projected payroll If they actually have to pay the full payroll its definitely not increasing much
If the others teams new he was healthy then they would have the advantage going into trades with the knowledge that the Mets are limited to upgrades via trade rather than signing quality free agents.
all my prayers and all of those vitamins he took really paid off !!
Go go gadget bedtime prayers!
If he’s healthy enough to hit and run the bases, he may be a DH candidate for an AL team. Bad contract swap, maybe?
Why is his one year left a bad contract? Mets should be in contention. Add Cespedes and Lowrie and I think they’re a threat.
I totally forgot this guy exists.
The same thing happened with the Angels with Josh Hamilton and CJ Wilson. Huge drain on payroll with zero return on investment.
I think for the Angels, those were just contracts gone bad. For the Mets, it essentially allows them to say they are spending $160m+ when they are really only spending like net $130m.
I’m sure he’ll get in about 50 games this yr at most. Roids have ruined his body and he can’t stay healthy.
Quite an assumption there. Do you have any personal knowledge of this? It’s hard to avoid getting caught for it now.
Proof? Have you ever seen a photo of Cespedes? Looks like Booker T.
So glad the tigers avoided this flashy but quirky player .
Cespedes is the type of player who only seems to give it his all when a contract is on the line. I had no doubt that he would make every effort to play in 2020 and I’m sure he will try to give it his all to ensure that he gets a new contract for 2021. No way would I ever give him a multi-year contract again. He needs to be incented to play hard for his next contract.