New York Mets: Is it wise to move on from Yoenis Cespedes now?

With Yoenis Cespedes nearing a return, the New York Mets must make their decision – play him or trade him. His past and present will work in tandem to determine it.

The Yoenis Cespedes situation has reached its final stages for the New York Mets. With Cespedes on the verge of a return and a reduced salary, Brodie Van Wagenen is exploring options to deal the hulking outfielder.

The Cuban outfielder arrived in Queens with a resounding stimulus, propelling the Mets to a surging second half and a 2015 World Series appearance. Shortly after their defeat by the Kansas City Royals, it appeared to all as if the free-agent slugger was on course to find his fifth team in three seasons. Yet, the Mets were able to strike a deal.

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2016 was another reverberant success for Cespedes, who – despite lingering injuries – lead the beleaguered Mets roster to a playoff berth. With the arrival of the offseason, he made the most financially shrewd decision in his power and opted out of his contract. The Mets – in a no-win situation – caved and obliged his demands, despite grievous concerns about his work ethic and injury history.

In the three seasons since the signing of this deal, Cespedes has yet to complete a full season, unable to even reach 300 at-bats in any of the three seasons. A prolonged absence in 2018 led to an eventual season-ending surgery on both of his heels, following his return for a one-game stint. He was not even active for a single game in 2019, as a severe ankle fracture was accrued during his recovery, reportedly due to the dodging of a wild boar.

In essence, former New York Mets GM, Sandy Alderson’s concerns about a lengthy deal were readily valid and if heeded, the organization might have had more fortuitous seasons since. This offseason, the Mets were able to parlay this unfortunate injury into a significantly reduced 2020 salary for Cespedes, laden with incentives.

The last year of his deal became downsized from nearly $30 million to a paltry, in comparison, $6 million. The incentives, if reached, would significantly alter this number. Henceforth, the thought process went, the Mets would either be able to motivate a significant hitter into playing or to make this potentially valuable asset much more attractive.

A player slated to make nearly $30 million for a season, regardless of talent, following being absent for over a year with an injury is not an asset that would garner much interest or any form of a return. Therefore, the recent reports that the Mets might be pursuing a Cespedes trade is firmly logical, from this perspective.

Such a trade could be advantageous if it was strictly being undertaken in order to create space for younger players such as Dominic Smith or J.D. Davis to flourish. Yet, such talents are still unproven, as their track record only lasts one season. Even still, holding on to Cespedes, in this case, would create an enormous depth, which is hardly a problem for a team that has had such well-document past injury troubles.

Cespedes has already demonstrated that he is healthy enough to swing, but these online videos cannot attest to how he will fare in left field or on the base paths. Sure, he may be able to run perfectly fine in a straight line, yet it is still undetermined how he will hold up under the rigors of making sharp cuts and transitions. In an instance such as rounding first base or bolting after a ball hit into the left-center field alley, he might have a tougher time.

A deal to an AL club would easily solve such a problem, as he could serve as a DH with ease. The Texas Rangers or Chicago White Sox would easily assume his salary and offer a modest return, possibly in the form of a depth reliever with upside. Either a prospect or an addition to the current bullpen would address the Mets’ most dire deficiencies. While it is true that such a deal would not fetch a bountiful return, it might be the logical decision.

The New York Mets should not act unless they know whether or not Cespedes would be suited for a season of NL play. They cannot afford to meander and shipping him away merely for salary relief is folly. In the end, unless a return is great, his baseball shape must first be ascertained before the front office begins to gauge a potential trade.