It is hard to imagine the New York Mets offense without Yoenis Cespedes. Yet again the team enters an offseason where it seems unlikely that their slugger will return, according to what team sources told ESPN New York.
Cespedes was brilliant during his time in Queens, putting together a batting line of .282/.348/.554 with 48 homers and 130 RBI in 189 games played. The Mets could not have asked for anymore out of him.
The Yo Show is expected to opt-out of his contract today as the free agency frenzy that surrounds Cespedes is set to begin. Manager, Terry Collins hopes for nothing more than to have Yoenis in his outfield for the 2017 season.
“That’s not my territory,” Collins said. “My territory is to manage the guys that are in the clubhouse. He’s a great player. One of the best in the game. Any team will be fortunate to have him. I hope we can get him back.”
Whatever happens with Cespedes will create a domino effect for the Mets, surely guiding how their offseason goes. If it is anything like previous year, it is bound to drag on for a good amount of time before anything is resolved.
The Mets are going to have some steep competition when it comes to retaining Cespedes’ services. Mike Puma of the NY Post takes a look at who he feels will be in play for Yoenis. Many see the Giants as their biggest threat to keeping Yo. San Francisco could certainly use a right-handed power hitting outfielder to bolster what was mostly a powerless offense.
The Toronto Blue Jays will also see themselves with some spots to fill with the impeding free agency of fan favorites Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion. Though it seems unlikely that Cespedes would find Toronto as appealing as New York or San Francisco. Money of course though always talks in what is likely to be Cespedes’ last big contract.
Lastly, you can never count out the Washington Nationals. Possibly even just to keep him away from the Mets, the Nats can make a play for Cespedes, just as they did last offseason. Honorable mention as well to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim as being a player for Cespedes as well.
No team though is seemingly a better match for Yoenis than the Metropolitans. He reportedly loves it here and we all loved him. Sandy Alderson is going to need to pony up the cash to bring Yo home, because this team severely needs him.
