As per Eduardo Perez of MLB Network, New York Mets outfielder, Yoenis Cespedes (heels, ankle) has declared himself “ready” to return to the field in 2020 and that he could hit 52 home runs (his jersey number).
“I have spoken to Yoenis and he’s hungry,” Perez said on MLB Network Radio. “[Cespedes] verbally told me, ‘I’m ready. I’m going to go out with a bang this year. I’m not just going to hit 40 home runs.'”
“I said, ‘That means you’re going to be on that field for 140-plus games. And he goes, ‘Then I’ll be out there for 140-plus games.'”
Cespedes, 34, had his contract with the Mets restructured due to the details surrounding the fall he took on his ranch last May, suffering a severe lower leg injury in the process. The Cuban slugger was rehabilitating the double heel decalcification surgery he underwent in July 2018 at the time of the new injury.
Since signing a four-year, $110 million contract with the Mets in November 2017, Cespedes has played in just 119 total games (.282/.343/.525, 26 home runs, 71 RBIs).
With his 2020 salary having been decreased to under $10 million guaranteed (with incentives), Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen now has either a relatively cheap outfielder with a presumably still-high power quotient to plug into his outfield rotation or an extremely enticing trade chip.
Anthony DiComo of MLB.com notes “the Mets have had teams reach out the past week regarding his availability in trades, according to a source,” adding “nothing [is] close or imminent or even all that likely.”
We’ll keep you posted with more information as it becomes available.
