New York Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes missed the entire 2019 season recovering from the ankle injury he suffered while on his ranch. In the last three years, Cespedes has played 119 of 486 possible games. He signed a 4-year, $110 million contract with the team back in 2017, paying him $29.5 million annually.
As SNY's Andy Martino reported last week, Cespedes agreed to amend his contract for the 2020 season. It could potentially lower that $29.5 million down to as low as under $10 million, Joel Sherman of the New York Post says.
With his amended salary, teams have actually reached out to the Mets about potentially trading for Cespedes, as MLB.com's Anthony DiComo describes.
One interesting effect of Yoenis Céspedes' contract restructuring: the Mets have had teams reach out the past week regarding his availability in trades, according to a source. Nothing close or imminent or even all that likely, but some initial conversations have taken place.
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) December 19, 2019Interestingly enough, Cespedes himself wasn't shy about confidence going into the 2020 season. MLB analyst Eduardo Perez went on MLB Network Radio and said the following:
"I've spoken to Yoenis and he's hungry," Perez said Thursday. "Just imagine if you do add a Yoenis Cespedes. A guy that verbally told me, he said 'I'm ready, I'm gonna go out with a bang this year. I'm not just gonna hit 40 home runs.'"
Perez described to Cespedes that hitting 40-plus home runs would mean playing 140-plus games. Cespedes told him he will be on the field for 140-plus games.
"Verbally he told me he could hit 52 (home runs)," Perez said.
In those 119 games he played spanning 2017 and 2018, Cespedes hit .282 with 26 homers and 23 doubles.
It will be fascinating to see where Cespedes ends up next season. Questions remain on whether there's a fit for him with the Mets as currently constructed. An American League team that could use him as a designated hitter might be an interesting option, especially when considering his lingering injury history.
