Photo Credit: Anthony Gruppuso/USA TODAY Sports
With many big names off the board for free agency, one name remains that should all of us, Yoenis Cespedes. Cespedes had a superstar year in Queens and propelled the New York Mets to a World Series. Yes, the Mets have one of the best, if not the best, pitching rotation in baseball, but it was his bat that got them from potential to winners. This is their guy and it is time for the team to put the pride aside and realize this.
Of course, the Mets being the Mets still have not re-signed the slugger and have shown no true interest in doing so. Why? How can the Mets who were just the biggest joke in baseball not open their checkbooks to a guy who made their lineup feared in just a few months. Cespedes hit 17 home runs and drove in 44 runs during his short time with the team and more importantly provided protection in a lineup that was severely lacking any true power threat. The Mets can argue they have a young power hitter in Michael Conforto, who made the jump from double-A to major leagues last season, but he is certainly not ready to carry a team that looks to repeat as National League champions. The Mets can argue they have Lucas Duda who can scorch a ball out of any ballpark, but also goes into serious cold spells where he is swinging at balls way out of the strike zone too often.
The Mets have made some small moves in the offseason, but fans are left scratching their heads about a player they rallied behind and fell in love with since the announcement that the team pulled the trigger on a trade. Nothing, however, says that this team is serious about returning to the World Series. Pitching stud Noah Syndergaard seemed to echo most people’s feelings saying he “hopes” Cespedes and the Mets can work out a deal. After acquiring Cespedes even general manager Sandy Alderson could not deny the impact of having the outfielder in the lineup. “This is the kind of player who could have a big impact, both with the team on the field and how the team is perceived,” he said. If that is so, then why the inability to work out a contract?
New York is also a perfect fit for Cespedes who seems to enjoy the pressure that comes along with playing in the greatest city in the world. Cespedes is a flashy guy who likes to wear a big diamond chain that bears his number during games and dress in bright and colorful outfits. He has expressed interested in remaining a Met for a “long, long time”, talking about how much he loves playing in Queens. He even became friends with one of the biggest Mets fans, Jerry Seinfeld. The two developed quite the friendship on social media.
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Of all the teams interested in the outfielder, the Mets have the brightest future with their amazing pitching rotation. The team should be in win-now mode after spending so many years in the cellar. Fans are excited and showing it by going to games and spending money. Money that should be put to re-sign the bat that brought the Mets back to relevancy.
