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Yoenis Cespedes Appears To Have Resumed Baseball Activities

By Jeff Todd | November 19, 2019 at 12:10pm CDT

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.

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New York Mets Yoenis Cespedes

Offseason Outlook: New York Mets
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Comments

  1. Phiilies2020

    1 year ago

    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.

    Like
    Reply
    • tigerdoc616

      1 year ago

      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.

      Like
      Reply
      • canocorncanocorn

        1 year ago

        A Cespedes for the rest of us.

        Like
        Reply
      • fits65

        1 year ago

        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.

        Like
        Reply
    • bigdb

      1 year ago

      A year to rest the heel surgery, but only been 6 months since he wrecked his ankle on his ranch.

      Like
      Reply
      • Ejemp2006

        1 year ago

        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.

        1 Like
        Reply
        • seth3120

          1 year ago

          Planter fasciitis didn’t help Pujols decline. He could hardly run and I’m talking back in his Cardinal days

          Like
          Reply
  2. RootedInOakland

    1 year ago

    Nimmo
    Cespedes
    McNeil
    Alonso
    Cano
    Conforto/Davis
    Ramos
    Rosario

    Like
    Reply
    • OaklandFan22

      1 year ago

      Semien
      Laureano
      Chappy
      Olson
      KD
      Piscotty
      Brown/Canha
      Murphy
      Profar

      Like
      Reply
      • Phiilies2020

        1 year ago

        Kingery 2B
        Segura SS
        Harper RF
        Hoskins 1B
        Realmuto C
        Moustakas 3B
        McCutchen LF
        Marte/Kiermaier/Buxton CF

        Like
        Reply
        • TwinsHomer

          1 year ago

          Arraez 2B
          Polanco SS
          Cruz DH
          Kepler RF
          Sano 3B
          Rosario LF
          Garver C
          Gonzales 1B
          Buxton CF

          Like
          Reply
        • SaberSmuckers

          1 year ago

          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?

          Like
          Reply
    • SaberSmuckers

      1 year ago

      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.

      Like
      Reply
      • phenomenalajs

        1 year ago

        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.

        Like
        Reply
      • mecousinvinny

        1 year ago

        4th place finish for the Mets

        Like
        Reply
    • SouthSide Pride 985

      1 year ago

      Anderson
      moncada
      Abreu
      Jimenez
      castianos
      collins
      Robert
      McCann
      madrigal

      1 Like
      Reply
      • Dogbone

        1 year ago

        This should get to 73 wins, IF they get the bullpen straightened out.
        Madrigal should be Ronald Torreyes, like.

        Like
        Reply
        • SouthSide Pride 985

          1 year ago

          so 1 more win than last season?

          2 Like
          Reply
      • oldleftylong

        1 year ago

        Uh, Castellanos.

        Like
        Reply
    • dynamite drop in monty

      1 year ago

      Hayes
      Taylor
      Dorn
      Cerrano
      Tomlinson
      Whoever played 1B
      FELIX FERMIN
      I dunno, Jeff Treadway?
      PASTE from NJ

      1 Like
      Reply
      • andremets

        1 year ago

        You forgot the Japanese guy from ML2 and ML3

        Like
        Reply
        • dynamite drop in monty

          1 year ago

          No marbles!

          Like
          Reply
    • californiaangels

      1 year ago

      Betts
      Trout
      Rendon
      Lindor
      Contreras
      Ohtani
      Upton
      TsuTsugo
      Fletcher

      Cole Stras Wheeler Heaney Ohtani

      Angel’s looking deep

      Like
      Reply
      • andremets

        1 year ago

        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….

        Like
        Reply
    • bad burce

      1 year ago

      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

      2 Like
      Reply
      • mecousinvinny

        1 year ago

        LOL very good made my day thanks !!!!

        1 Like
        Reply
  3. Pickle_Britches

    1 year ago

    Solid line up right there

    1 Like
    Reply
  4. Reflect

    1 year ago

    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…

    1 Like
    Reply
    • SaberSmuckers

      1 year ago

      Nice. Thanks.

      Like
      Reply
  5. Tesseract

    1 year ago

    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

    1 Like
    Reply
  6. jim stem

    1 year ago

    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.

    Like
    Reply
    • SaberSmuckers

      1 year ago

      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.

      Like
      Reply
    • lowereastsider

      1 year ago

      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.

      1 Like
      Reply
  7. Baseball 1600

    1 year ago

    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.

    Like
    Reply
  8. ForestCobraAL

    1 year ago

    Maybe the Mets are collecting insurance money and would rather Cespedes sit down for the season of most of it.

    Like
    Reply
    • raltongo

      1 year ago

      It’s probably all John Middleton’s fault, that cheap SOB.

      Like
      Reply
    • Willy Mays

      1 year ago

      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

      Like
      Reply
      • Johnny Baseball

        1 year ago

        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.

        Like
        Reply
  9. boognailz4

    1 year ago

    all my prayers and all of those vitamins he took really paid off !!

    Like
    Reply
    • 22Leo

      1 year ago

      Go go gadget bedtime prayers!

      Like
      Reply
  10. inkstainedscribe

    1 year ago

    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?

    Like
    Reply
    • SaberSmuckers

      1 year ago

      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.

      Like
      Reply
  11. 22Leo

    1 year ago

    I totally forgot this guy exists.

    1 Like
    Reply
  12. phi447

    1 year ago

    The same thing happened with the Angels with Josh Hamilton and CJ Wilson. Huge drain on payroll with zero return on investment.

    Like
    Reply
    • andremets

      1 year ago

      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.

      Like
      Reply
  13. DTD_ATL

    1 year ago

    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.

    Like
    Reply
    • phenomenalajs

      1 year ago

      Quite an assumption there. Do you have any personal knowledge of this? It’s hard to avoid getting caught for it now.

      Like
      Reply
      • andremets

        1 year ago

        Proof? Have you ever seen a photo of Cespedes? Looks like Booker T.

        Like
        Reply
  14. detroitfan69

    1 year ago

    So glad the tigers avoided this flashy but quirky player .

    Like
    Reply
  15. misterbill

    1 year ago

    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.

    Like
    Reply

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