New York Mets Rumors: Yoenis Cespedes Still A Target?
New York Mets Rumors: Could Yoenis Cespedes be brought back to the Mets if his market continues to be as stagnant as it has been?
The New York Mets have had a very quiet offseason thus far. They haven’t made any splashy moves or handed out any lavish contracts. They have just gone about their business filling out the holes they had on their team, specifically the middle infield and fourth outfield spot.
But, there are still a number of big named free agents available on the free agent market, one of them being last season’s hero and fan favorite Yoenis Cespedes. The wide spread belief once the offseason got underway was that Cespedes, like Daniel Murphy, would be leaving the Mets for greener pastures this offseason. But, as we get closer and closer to Spring Training, is there a chance that the Mets and Cespedes reunite again?
According to MLB Network insider Jon Heyman, the Mets have been willing to do a 2-3 year deal with Cespedes to bring him back to Queens.
mets have been thought willing to do 2-3 yr deal w/ cespedes. very unlikely to work. but cant hurt to stay in contact.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) January 13, 2016
Heyman also notes that it is unlikely to work because Cespedes is still holding out hope of landing a long term deal. That is something that the Mets do not seem inclined to do, otherwise they would have probably engaged the free agent outfielder in negotiations already.
That also goes in line with what MLB on Fox and MLB Network insider Ken Rosenthal has said about the Cespedes and Mets situation as well.
Sources: For #Mets to engage on Cespedes, they would need to hear from his agents that he is willing to entertain short-term deal…
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 13, 2016
Agents have not given #Mets any indication that Cespedes would accept deal of 1, 2 or 3 years. Cespedes remains committed to longer term.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 13, 2016
At this point it does not seem like a reunion between Cespedes and the Mets are in the works, but the door is not yet closed. The market has developed slowly for Cespedes as he holds out for a long term contract, but there are other options left for teams such as Justin Upton and Chris Davis.
If Cespedes does change his tone and settles for a short term contract to try again for a long term deal next offseason or in 2018, you can expect the Mets to come calling quickly. The signing of Alejandro De Aza allows that, because they could easily move him to a bench role if the possiblity of bringing aboard a player of the caliber of Cespedes arose.
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It is a long shot at this time, as a team will more than likely budge and give Cespedes the deal he is looking for, but if for whatever reason that offer doesn’t come along the Mets and Cespedes could be a perfect pairing again just like they were at the 2015 MLB trade deadline.