Mets Rumors: Yoenis Cespedes Prefers Left Field
New York Mets Rumors: Yoenis Cespedes would like to remain in left field, causing a logjam for manager Terry Collins.
New York Mets rumors recently have revolved around injuries, which causes problems in their own right. The most recent rumor for the Mets could cause some changes to be made to the roster as well, as Yoenis Cespedes has revealed that he would prefer playing left field instead of center field for the remainder of the season.
Cespedes has played a majority of this season in center field because that is what the roster has dictated. He has started 61 games there compared to 13 in left field to accomodate the roster structure for the Mets, who have had Juan Lagares, Michael Conforto, Brandon Nimmo, Curtis Granderson and Alejandro De Aza filling in the other spots in the outfield and backing up Cespedes.
But, a nagging quad injury had kept Cespedes out of the lineup for multiple days before he was able to get back into the lineup on Sunday. As a result, Cespedes was in left field, with Lagares taking over in centerfield.
While that seems to be the alignment the Mets will use for the foreseeable future, as Cespedes works his way back to full health, it is something that he would prefer to do the remainder of the season.
When talking to reporters following the Mets’ 5-0 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday, Cespedes let his feelings be known that if he has the choice, he would like to remain in left field.
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“If they give me the option, I’ll stay in left field,” Cespedes said through an interpreter. “I don’t think I’m at 100 percent,” Cespedes said after the game. “I’m probably around 80 to 90 percent. But I can hold myself up to play. In the outfield I felt OK. I think at home plate my timing is a little off.”
Cespedes also touched on his comfortability and health as a reason to stay in left field, saying, “I’d rather play left field because I feel more comfortable,” Cespedes said. “And also it’s less work on my leg.”
While catering to your best hitter is something that makes sense to do, especially if it will help keep them on the field, this particular request would make things very difficult for manager Terry Collins.
If Cespedes is going to be the everyday left fielder instead of center fielder, Collins will have daily decisions to make with his lineup. Michael Conforto, who was re-called Sunday after a 16-game absence, would have to see more time in right field, pushing Curtis Granderson either to center field or the bench.
If Granderson is forced to play center field, the Mets defense would see a big downgrade, as he is not the same player he once was when he was patrolling center field on an everyday basis since 2012.
It could also cut further into the playing time of Lagares and De Aza, which may not be a bad thing for the Mets in the case of De Aza. But, Lagares, who has been playing more against right-handed pitching recently, could find himself as the odd-man out as the lefty-hitting Conforto and Granderson may get the nod.
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It will make for tough decision for Collins, as he has a quagmire in aligning his outfield if Cespedes wants to play left field again. A way to alleviate the problem? Maybe we see the Mets shop one of the outfielders from their logjam to aide another spot on the team, specifically the pitching staff.