The New York Mets are still without knowledge of whether or not outfielder Yoenis Céspedes will play next season.
Yoenis Céspedes is still on the New York Mets roster? For many fans, he unfortunately is. The veteran outfielder hasn’t played a game since the 2018 season, dealing with numerous injuries to his heels and ankle. The latter was a setback he suffered while on his ranch, causing him to miss the entirety of the 2019 season.
Since the Mets signed him to a four-year, $110 million deal prior to the 2017 campaign, he’s played in just 119 games. Yes, less than a full season in the three full seasons that have passed since he inked the deal.
Needless to say, it hasn’t been a great agreement for the organization. And unfortunately, it could continue to be unbeneficial on the Mets’ side of the bargain. According to Tim Healey of Newsday, Céspedes may not see the field in 2020 either.
The Mets don’t know if Yoenis Cespedes will play in 2020, Brodie Van Wagenen said.
— Tim Healey (@timbhealey) November 4, 2019
In his absence, the Mets have fielded the likes of J.D. Davis, Brandon Nimmo, Michael Conforto, Juan Lagares, as well as Jeff McNeil in the outfield. There’s a good chance their outfield could include any of these three names on Opening Day next year if Céspedes isn’t good to go (with the exception of Lagares, who will hit free agency this offseason).
The Detroit Tigers originally traded Céspedes to the Mets during New York’s World Series runner-up season in 2015. His best year (hopefully, thus far) with the Mets was in 2016.
He hit 31 home runs with 86 RBI and a slash line of .280/.354/.530 in what was the second All-Star campaign of his career.
