New York Mets: Yoenis Cespedes is the Mets’ forgotten man entering the 2019 season

As we all know by now, the New York Mets have had a pretty busy offseason, but, the team and its fans seem to be forgetting about Yoenis Cespedes.

The New York Mets have had a plethora of new players come to Queens this offseason, some of which are expected to make some major contributions this season, but perhaps everything is still centered around Yoenis Cespedes.

With that being said, Mets fans have long been waiting for that “big splash” to insert in the everyday lineup that would make the team go from a pretender to a contender in the blink of an eye.

And while the team traded for a perennial All-star in Robinson Cano, the fans still weren’t satisfied. They still didn’t have that true thumper to slide into the heart of the order.

On second thought, you know who would be a great player to fill that void? That’s right, Mets Outfielder Yoenis Cespedes.

Now don’t get me wrong, I am fully aware he is still going to be out until after the All-star break, perhaps even longer, no one really knows, as he is recovering from surgery on both of his heels.

The Mets could very well be out of the playoff race by then. Remember, the team had an 11-1 start to the year last season, only to be out of it by July after a 5-21 June to forget.

Their roster is also significantly better than it was last season. Even without him, the Mets are still projected to compete for a wild card spot.

He very well could come back and stink, too. But what if he doesn’t?

If the Mets can get the Cespedes of-old to come back into the three hole during the dog days of August, it will make a huge difference on the Mets making a run in 2019.

But what about the Mets already clogged up outfield? Who’s going to sit when Cespedes comes back?

The most likely answer to that question is that Juan Lagares will slide back into a defensive specialist role. This will move Brandon Nimmo from right field to center, Michael Conforto from left to right, and Cespedes will resume his role as the everyday left fielder.

This is the best case scenario for the team (assuming Cespedes does well, of course) due to the fact that Cespedes would be a significant upgrade over Lagares at the plate without sacrificing too much defense.

If the Mets are looking to do some damage in 2019, Cespedes coming back, if he is able to return, will be a vital part of their success.

Just make sure you don’t forget about him.