Entering this offseason, the most daunting task for the Mets was re-signing their own star, Yoenis Cespedes. As we now know, Cespedes went on to sign a four-year $110 million deal to stay in New York. Kevin Kernan of the NY Post spoke with Yo this past week to discuss his outlook on the upcoming season.
“Signing early has allowed me to do everything I wanted to do and train to get ready for the season,’’ Cespedes said. “I’m much more comfortable now with having a multi-year contract. When you play year-to-year, sometimes you are concerned about getting hurt, but now all that’s in the past.’’
Cespedes, 31, took New York by storm upon his arrival in 2015 and has not looked back since. While appearing in 132 games in his first full season as a Metropolitan, he hit to a .280/.354/.530 battling line to go with 31 homers and 86 RBI. Cespedes quickly became the star player the Mets had sorely been missing.
Throughout last season he was brought down at times with a balky quadriceps injury that nagged him throughout much of the year. He played through the pain, risking greater injury.
“I am the only one who knew how much pain I was in,’’ Cespedes said. “I was trying to mask it, trying to play through it and do as much as I could to help the team. After the games I was icing to try to be on the field as much as I could.’’
He has put a greater focus on working his legs during this offseason, hoping to make them stronger and free of any further issues as he readies himself for the 2017 season. He has put forth a new focus to work even harder to be the player we all know he can be, reporting to spring training early this year as well.
“I like getting up at 5:30 and being the first one to the ballpark and doing my early work,’’ Cespedes said. “Once spring training starts, I will get up at 4:30 and be ready to go to be the first one here. I like that. During the season I will not get up that early but I like that now.’
The question many have wondered is that when he receives the big contract that gives him security, if it would tamper with his focus and commitment down the road. He is seemingly off to a good start and ready to make good on the deal he signed.
This Mets offense needed Cespedes more than they ever would have known, had they not signed him. It is a great marriage for both parties as he has single handedly at times carried this team when no one else could. He was born to play in Queens and the next four years should be quite fun to see if he can help bring the Mets and their fans the first World Series championship since 1986.
