Ces’ future as big contributor for Mets in doubt
Do not expect any updates on Yoenis Cespedes.
The Mets slugger, who is entering the third year of a four-year deal, is not expected to return from double heel surgery until at least July.
Mets GM Brodie Van Wagenen, who was Cespedes' agent until October, however, would not answer questions about the 33-year-old's rehab or what the Mets can hope to get from him this year.
“We won't get into those,” Van Wagenen said when asked about a timeline for Cespedes' return. “I think we've continued to be patient with him, we're responsible not only his health, but also recognizing we need him and need him to be at his best when he comes back, so whenever that is we will be able to infuse him into our lineup.”
The best-case scenario has Cespedes returning around the All-Star break.
Privately, Mets officials have openly speculated if the Cuban-born slugger will ever be an everyday contributor again. Mets special advisor to the GM Omar Minaya came close to admitting that earlier this month when on MLB radio the said, “If he gives us anything this year, that is great, we're happy for that.”
Van Wagenen, who represented Cespedes when he signed the $110 million deal with the Mets, masterfully redirected questions about his ability to contribute this season.
“We're just really excited and hopeful that he's going to be playing a big part of this team, While we haven't put a timeline on it, we certainly expect him to be playing meaningful games and impacting this lineup,” Van Wagenen said. “As we've constructed it, we've got a really length to our lineup offensively as we have, now you insert Cespedes into that potentially at some point in the summer, you've got a really dominating and intimidating lineup we can go into the pennant race with.”
Cespedes has played in 81 and 38 games in the first two seasons of his four-year deal. They owe him $29 million for the next two seasons.