How Should Mets Fans Take the Cespedes Deal?

1/23/2016

Cespedes was doubled off first to end Game 4 of World Series.

While we were sleeping Friday night, wondering if we would lose power in the storm, the Mets were signing Yoenis Cespedes for one, or three, or five years, depending on how it goes.

Some people think it’s a good financial deal, compared to what some teams have overpaid for sluggers over 30.

But having witnessed Cespedes in the World Series last fall, when he batted .150, I’m just not convinced.

He played at half speed, his brain and will apparently turned off, looking like musical “Damn Yankees,” when Joe Hardy reverts to a stumbling middle-aged man.

Was he hurt? Was he comatose? Or was his sudden reversal the reason he had passed through three teams in four seasons since leaving Cuba?

Then again, I had been comparing his power and agility to Willie Mays after Cespedes shockingly arrived with the Mets in August. He carried the Mets to the World Series as pitchers suddenly had to revise the way they approached the Mets’ lineup. He made every hitter better.

But he regressed in the National League series, coming up with a sore shoulder after being spotted playing golf in Chicago on the day of the fourth game. He was doubled off first base – way too far, way too lethargic – for the last out of the fourth game of the World Series. And he was stumbling around in the outfield.

That performance undoubtedly cost Cespedes a lot of money. The Mets’ front office played it well, waiting, waiting, until other teams had spent on other players, and Cespedes seemed to be hanging back, wanting to return to New York.

Early Saturday morning, Mets’ buff David Wachter sent me a message:

Yoenis Cespedes $75 for three - $57m more for last three years 2019, 2020, 2021.
http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/14629430/yoenis-cespedes-agrees-deal-new-york-mets
2006, 2007, 2008 Jason Giambi was paid $60m.
Cespedes sought $132/6 - $75/3 $57.
Mark Teixeira's contract last three years up to age 35?
2014, 2015, 2016: $69,375,000.
$57,000,000 - 2019,2020,2021.... How many tools did those Yanked first baseman have?
Could they be a late inning substitution in left or right, a pinch runner?
No one offered that money ....
As a Met fan I feel like a miracle happened....
And you?

Miracle? Good poker by Sandy Alderson? Admirable decision by Cespedes?
Depends who the Mets get – Willie Mays or Joe Hardy.
Your thoughts?

Ed Martin

1/23/2016 02:56:13 pm

I am afraid to speculate, after all, I am a Mets fan. I do think he will be better than their choice in 1989 of Juan Samuels, second baseman for the Phillies, who they put in centerfield after getting rid of Lennie Dystra and Mookie Wilson. (Admittedly, Lennie had his off-field problems.) Samuels was lucky not to be killed by falling baseballs, hit a blistering 220 or so and lasted less than 100 games.

Viva Cespedes! (for now.)

Josh Rubin

1/23/2016 06:08:16 pm

Two thoughts: 1. The Mets are a better team with Cespedes than they are with the same roster minus Cespedes. Whether they overpaid for him seems irrelevant since they are a fairly low budget roster in general. I worry that, as good a hitter as he is, he is easy to solve. He will still beat you if you make a mistake, but he won't be able to surprise NL pitchers this year. Still, an upgrade.

2. Alderson is a patient hunter. He does not panic or overcommit. He follows a strategy, then lays in wait and pounces. Before signing Cespedes, he put together a roster for 2016 that was better than the roster he started 2015 with. He left room for a move lie this, whether now or mid-season. Quite shrewd.

The poker analogy is apt. To switch sports, I thought Donnie Walsh was playing a good hand of poker to try to get Melo from the Nuggets without giving up too, too much. There is no leverage unless you make a convincing case that you are willing to walk away. Unfortunately, his bluff fooled his boss, who panicked and traded away two too many players to get the deal done. So I am all for Alderson keeping his cards close.

Roy Edelsack

1/24/2016 08:20:49 am

How will Cespedes do? I'm a Mets fan so this is easy. If he signed with the Nationals he'd hit .305 with 33 homers and 120 RBI. But since he signed with us it'll be more like .270/21/89. I guess this meets Josh's definition of better with him than without him but in a negative way. Did I mention I'm a Mets fan?

Ed's mention of Juan Samuel reminds us of something else to worry about: The-curse-of -the-hard-hitting-secondbaseman-who-comes-to- the-Mets-and-inexplicably-stops-hitting. Is Neil Walker an upgrade to Daniel Murphy or is he Carlos Baerga?

bruce

1/24/2016 02:46:52 pm

George,

i'm pleased YOU compared him to willie mays and not i.

the really big news this weekend is that kotoshogiku became the first Japanese rikishi (sumo wrestler) to win a basho (tournament) in exactly 10 years--sixty tournaments. 58 won by Mongolians, one by an Estonia and another by a Bulgarian.

emperor heisei must be weeping tears of joy.

bruce

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But in the last year, there has been only a smattering of people whenever I’m here, with row upon row of empty desks. Sometimes a larger group gets lured in for a meeting with a platter of bagels."

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***
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How Should Mets Fans Take the Cespedes Deal?

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