With Yoenis Cespedes off to an excellent start, Kevin Davidoff of the NY Post says the Mets’ relationship with Cespedes appears to be warming up.
But Davidoff wonders if this means the two sides will be able to commit to a long term deal.
“It’s a little early,” John Ricco, the Mets’ assistant general manager, said. “We really haven’t had discussions about that. It’s probably in the back of everyone’s mind, maybe, but nothing that we’ve even discussed internally.”
Cespedes can opt out of his three year $75 million dollar contract after this season, but Terry Collins says Cespedes wants to stay beyond this year.
“We’re paying him a lot of money. Don’t mistake that,” Collins said Tuesday. “But he wants to play in New York City. And that says a lot. Because a lot of guys would shy away from that challenge. He wants to be here. What he provides in the middle of that lineup, we need. And we’re going to need it as we continue to move forward.”
While it once looked like Cespedes wouldn’t return to the Mets this season, he has become the team’s most dangerous hitter.
His 15 homeruns and 36 RBI lead the National League, and he’s raised his batting average to .309 after a 2-for-4 performance last night against Washington.
He also has the highest OPS in the league at 1.060, which is even better than his total last season.
He posted a .942 OPS with 17 homeruns and 44 RBI in 249 plate appearances during the second half for the Mets in 2015.
“Every time he takes the field, it puts a smile on my face,” Ricco said Tuesday. “And I give credit to Sandy, who kind of put us in position to where we didn’t think it was likely, but he never gave up on it.”
Cespedes’ presence in the lineup has been tremendous ever since he was acquired during last season’s trading deadline, and hopefully he will continue to be a key part of the team for many years to come.
