Watching outfielder Yoenis Cespedes limping to the dugout after popping out to shortstop in the sixth inning of Sunday’s season-ending loss to the Kansas City Royals, might have been his final act with the New York Mets.
A team source told Adam Rubin of ESPN New York that while the Mets are expected to modestly pursue Cespedes as a free agent, it is highly likely he ends up signing elsewhere.
Cespedes was removed from Game 5 of the World Series after fouling a ball off the top of his left knee in the sixth inning with the bases loaded. Cespedes dropped to the ground in front of home plate in pain but remained in the game to complete his at-bat.
The Mets acquired Cespedes from the Detroit Tigers at the deadline for highly regarded pitching prospect Michael Fulmer. He literally carried the team with a tremendous offensive explosion that saw him hit 14 doubles, 17 home runs and 44 RBI in 57 games.
However he went just 3-for-20 in the World Series with no extra-base hits, made several bad plays defensively, and he got picked off first base in Game 4 to end the game.
“This being my fourth season, this is the most I ever played,” Cespedes said yesterday. “I think my body’s tired.”
Asked if he would be open to returning to the Mets, Cespedes said: “It’s too early for that. My agent told me that we’ll see what’s going on around December or so. It’s just too early.”
