CESPEDES EYES A ‘METS’ FUTURE:
Yo wants to stay, but no guarantee
ST. LOUIS — Yoenis Cespedes reiterated Wednesday that he would like to be a Met for the next two years and maybe even the rest of his career. The Cuban slugger said that at this time, he sees nothing that would make him use the opt-out he has in his contract after this season.
But, he also said he has not made up his mind.
“Nope,” Cespedes said through a team translator when asked if he had decided to stay all three years. “My focus is just to play baseball, help the team win, I let my agents worry about all of that.”
Cespedes said he has not spoken to his agent since he signed it.
Industry sources scoffed Wednesday at the idea the Cespedes would not use the opt-out in his contract after this season. He would not be the first player to say he was thinking about declining it and then opting out after the season; see Alex Gordon, for example.
Cespedes would be, by far, the biggest free agent on the market this winter and likely be able to get the multiyear mega-deal that he was looking for last winter. He flirted with the Nationals, who offered him more overall money and years than the Mets, but in a contract that was back-loaded. The Mets offered him a three-year, $75 million with $27 million for 2016 and the option to opt out of the contract after one year.
“I’d be shocked,” a rival GM said of Cespedes declining the option. “What does he have to lose? You think the Mets wouldn’t take him back on another favorable contract if he doesn’t get what he wants?”
Cespedes has said all along he intends to play out the three years of his deal with the Mets. Citing the fans, the team, the coaches and the organization’s potential, Cespedes said back in February at the press conference announcing his signing that the Mets were the right fit.
Privately, however, there have been mixed messages in the clubhouse. He has told some teammates he will be back in 2017 and he has told others he will not, according to team sources.
Right now, the Mets are just pleased to see that a motivated Cespedes has rejoined the lineup and he seems to be producing since he came back from the disabled list.
Cespedes is hitting .364 with a double, three home runs, and five RBI since he returned Friday from the 15day DL. In the 12 games before that, playing with a strained right quad, Cespedes hit just .211 with one home run and six RBI.
Cespedes did not homer in Tuesday night’s win over the Cardinals, but he was crucial. He made an incredible leaping grab at the fence to rob Stephen Piscotty of a home run in the seventh. And his presence in the lineup helps everyone, Terry Collins said.
“They pitch around him. That’s why you gotta have the right people behind him,” the Mets manager said. “So he does lengthen the lineup, takes those guys who were at one time hitting in his spot and put them down and that is a run producing spot when you can push those guys down a notch.”
While Cespedes said his right quad is fine there is still concern. The Mets are keeping a close eye on him and are keeping him in left field instead of center, where they really need him to play, to limit stress on his legs.
The Mets love the production they are getting from Cespedes, but they are being responsible and preparing for life without him. Trading for Jay Bruce at the deadline was the first step. Having Michael Conforto spend the rest of this season and perhaps part of the winter preparing to play center field is another.
For now, however, the Mets and Cespedes are focused on trying to get back to the playoffs.
“If anything were to happen, I guess that would be something to deal with in the offseason,” Cespedes said. “My mind right now is on playing, there is nothing that is making me get away from my contract, but I just haven’t thought about it.”
The only certainty with Cespedes right now is he plans to play out the rest of the season with the Mets.