The stage is set for a fascinating final contract year for Yoenis Cespedes and the Mets. The veteran slugger says he’s a full go for the regular season and anticipates opening the year as the team’s designated hitter, as Tim Healey of Newsday was among those to cover on Twitter.
Cespedes is working back from some serious leg injuries that cost him not only significant action, but also significant guaranteed money. His amended contract calls for his earnings to depend in large part upon how many plate appearances he manages this year, so it’s good news for all parties that he’s ready to roll from the jump. (The targets will be pro-rated to reflect the shortened season.)
The real financial prize for Cespedes lies in another trip onto the open market at season’s end. He’s already 34 years of age, so there’ll be some natural limits to his potential earning power, but he could hold a top position on the market with a full-throated return to form.
The Mets will gladly pay up if Cespedes is able to play at his typical levels. He has done nothing but hit in New York — when he has been in the lineup. Cespedes carries a .282/.346/.543 batting line during his time in Queens but has appeared in only 119 contests since the start of the 2017 season.
Please don’t bat Cano higher than 6
7th
Only two problems with Cano hitting 7th:
1 Who hits 8th?
2 He puts someone else on the bench.
McNeil 3b
Alonso 1b
Conforto RF
Davis LF
Cespedes DH
Cano 2b
Ramos C
Rosario SS
Nimmo CF
That’s what I would do.
That’s a good lineup. I personally like
Nimmo
McNeil
Alonso
Ces
Conforto
Davis
Cano
Ramos
Rosario
Either lineup you choose. You can’t find 10 better lineups so I’m happy.
I’m a braves fan. But also a fan of the game in general. Here’s my proposed line up
1. McNeil
2.conforto
3. Davis
4. Alonso
5. Cespedes
6. Ramos
7. Cano
8. Rosario
9. Nimmo/Marisnick
Should be a pretty good lineup. I don’t get the Mets hate. Rivals are a fun think. Barring bad luck or injuries I see them close to the top of the division. Should be a challenge opening say
What’s with batting Nimmo 9th? He’s possibly their best hitter. I’d lead him off. If he bats ninth, I’d fire the manager who wrote out the lineup card on the spot.
Why platoon Nimmo? He’s probably a better hitter against lefties than Marisnick is. And why bat him 9th?
Nimmo is their best hitter? Based on what?
148 OPS+ in ‘18, best on the team. Was injured much of last year but even so, his career OPS+ is 127, pretty damn good. Alonso could be their best hitter. His OPS+ last year? 148…. McNeil? 144. Conforto? 128… certainly batting Nimmo 9th makes no sense at all.
Both teams are great. Should be a good one
Welp. I’m not a manager buddy but I put him up there as a second leadoff hitter per say. His great OBP numbers warrant this. But McNeil is one of the best contract hitters in the game. A guy anybody would want on their team. I don’t think he should be anywhere but leadoff. Plus he’s a braves killer. So that’s my rational in putting him 9th I also put marisnick there because of his great defense and letting Nimmo get some rest maybe two days a week because Nimmo seems to get hurt often. Just my opinion. Fire me If you want Mr GM
Thanks for the positivity metsfan22. This site could really use some lol. I could see the possibility of the Mets winning the division.
Ok. In my entirely made up fantasy world you’ve been fired. I’m still on the hook for the remainder of your contract though, so I owe you a bunch of imaginary money.
McNeil’s contact skills are why I’d bat him 2nd or 3rd. I want guys on base for him to drive home. I’d bat Nimmo and his superstar OBP (but modest BA) first. Let the guy draw his walk and then McNeil doubles him home, or something like that.
Thanks. I could see the Mets also finishing 4th. And Braves 1st. I hope Mets do good this year but with all 4 teams being good. Some good teams in the division will be disappointed. Good luck this year!
Overrated Stats.
I live this line up. Nimmo and McNeil on the top and the big bats behind them.
Davis, LF – Davis? Rajai Davis? In the middle of the lineup? Can’t be. Who the? – Oh yeah, JD Davis. Man 2019 was a long time ago.
Lol.
I thought he was talking about Ike Davis for a moment.
Heard the Mets’ announcers during their first Summer Training game say that Cano would bat third more than not.
Sadly it’s true
Don’t get why this isn’t 2014 cano anymore he’s a liability not a threat now
Yup
Guy used PEDs and shouldn’t be in baseball. Unfortunately the players have no integrity hence them looking the other way on cheating. I feel for the fans who care about baseball when the horrible excuse of players and owners are in cahoots ruining the game
Cano should be batting 12th..or sitting for mcneil at 2nd, davis at 3rd
I’m proud of him. Comeback season baby!
I think it’s kind of cute that the author thinks there’s any chance Cespedes has a “full-throated” return to form.
The poor guy is 34, years removed from a good season, and as fragile as a china doll.
If NY is able to get anything – anything at all out of the guy, that will be a victory of sorts.
Cespedes was a really great ballplayer in his A’s days. But that was a long time ago and he was a whole lot less banged up then. I’m not trying to be mean here, but far more likely than a new contract next year is a non-roster invite assuming he merits one.
Obviously….How He Hits…will determine whether or not he gets a regular deal or a minors deal.
If he plays 80% of the 60 games (even if he’s only a DH)……and mashes anything like he used to……He’ll get a DH deal from some team that desperately needs the power numbers.
I think he’s a better bet than Kemp…….and he made a team this season.
(just my opinion)
I absolutely agree that a guy like Cespedes is a better bet to mash as a DH than Kemp. Considering he no longer has to field it’ll be interesting to see how he does.
Kemp is done…has been for quite some time-
With the A’s he had a 119 OPS+ in 1546 PA’s.
With the Mets he has a 138 OPS+ in 1270 PA’s.
Just sayin’.
I get what your saying but some dudes were just born to mash….Manny Rameriez David Ortiz Nelson Cruz etc……….I could see Ces fallling into that crowd albeit not as great….
Getting off the field half the game should help him more than any other player in the bigs
Candidate for comeback player of the year.
I think Cano is better at DH. McNeil at second. Davis at third. Pray Cespedes can play LF
He can barely move. No OF for Cespy.
Davis at third and Cespedes in left is most likely an unplayable disaster. If Yoenis is limping out in left you’ll need a real third baseman… Davis is less of a liability in left than at third and NcNeil’s D at third will prevent the left side of the field from becoming a butcher’s shop
ooof. Pray rh batters never pull the ball.
if Daniel Bard even plays a game he wins the award this year
Very good lineup, but can sour quickly if some of the older guys break down. The DH really helps the Mets I think. I expect them to have a good year, but Matz and Stroman need to step up big time to fill the void of Syndergaard.
exactly, that’s my Mets take. i love getting eaten alive by Mets fans when i say the Phillies can compete with them but its true. this Mets team could easily go south quickly. lose DeGrom and they are done. someone like Davis or McNeil regresses and Ces or Lowrie cant fill the void and they are in trouble. i feel like they are skating on thin ice. they have a shot at 2nd in the division for sure, but its not a safe bet.
The problem is you can say the same for just about every team. Take the Phillies, Nola goes down or regresses and they don’t have the depth to make up for the lost production. At this point the Braves are the team in the best position to absorb a significant loss.
Cespedes is a real wildcard here. He’s not young and at an age where, injuries aside, he’s likely to be in decline. If he can pick up where he left off at the plate then he’ll be huge for the Mets, but that’s a big “if”.
Cespedes plays when he wants to. He’ll sucker some team into a new contract and then disappear again.
Wut?
Man, after Lowrie went down I was really worried about who would be the Mets DH, I feel so relieved now.
Hey, if Cespedes can’t do it they still got Davis for left and Smith as DH. Purty good.
“Cespedes expects to be dh on opening day”…. then i expect him to be on the dl at game 2
Lineup would be
Nimmo/ Marsineck
McNeil
Confronting
Pete
Davis
Yoenis
Cano
Ramos
Rosario
Can’t stand looking at PED Cano—what a trade. Would I love to see him off the team and McNeil at 2B and JD at 3B. McNeil leadoff every day. Pete’s a natural cleanup hitter but thrived batting second. Conforto batting third, Cespedes fourth, Davis fifth. Need Ramos to pick it up and bat sixth. Rosario the best out of him, Nimmo, Cano. Would love to see Conforto in CF—Nimmo & especially Cano the weak links.
I’ll never get how so many fans fail to see how great Nimmo is. 148 OPS+ in ‘18! Are you judging him solely on batting average? Nimmo is a GREAT hitter!
The order has to alternate left/right as much as possible. Remember the new relief usage rules. Why make it easy for the opposition? This is what I would start with. Of course adjust as needed based on who’s hot.
Nimmo
Alonso
McNeil
Davis
Conforto
Cespedes
Cano
Ramos
Rosario