Does anyone else regret resigning Cespedes?

[Guest Rockin' Doc]

I know it seemed like a good idea at the time and I supported the signing of Cespedes following the 2016 season, but in retrospect I now regret the deal.

His deal is for $110 mil. over 4 years. Last year he was paid $22.5 mil. for 81 games played in which he hit 17 home runs and drove in 42 runs. I thought, "Okay, he was overpaid, but there are three more years left. Next year he will be healthy and be the center of the offense."

Then this year comes and the Mets are on the hook for $29 mil. and he has played in 37 games while contributing 8 home runs and 28 RBI's. Worse yet, there appears to be no indication that he will be back in the line up and contributing to the team any time in the near future. Now I think, "I can't believe there are two more seasons left on this deal."

Prior to joining the Mets, Cespedes was a durable player that rarely missed any games. Since signing his big contract following the 2016 season, he has been quite injury prone. The way he has bulked up, he looks more like a body builder than a baseball player. I will not be at all surprised if he misses significant playing time due to various muscle pulls and strains for the remainder of his contract.

I realize that injuries are pretty unpredictable and that Cespedes had no prior history of frequent injuries, but I now have a bad case of buyer's remorse. Talented as he is, I now feel that the moeny invested in Cespedes could have been put to better use.

[smg58]

20/20 hindsight. People would have come after the Wilpons with torches and pitchforks if we didn't re-sign Cespedes, just like if we didn't re-sign David Wright. Both deals made perfect sense at the time. That's the risk that comes with a big contract, and you take the risk if you want the guy. (I'm for giving DeGrom that kind of extension.) I don't regret re-signing them, I regret that it didn't work out.

That being said, I no longer think there is room for Cespedes on this team. An AL team in need of a DH would take two-thirds of his salary. Take that, get a centerfielder who can also hit, and let Nimmo and Conforto man the corners.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Obviously, at this point it looks like a bad deal, but there's still a chance that it can redeem itself. If Cespedes hits 40 homers in 2020 and the Mets win the World Series, we'll have a different perspective on his contract.

[Lefty Specialist]

At the time, we were ecstatic (I know I was). So it is what it is. If we signed, say, Manny Machado to a similar contract and he broke down later, we'd be having the same conversation.

[seawolf17]

smg58 wrote: 20/20 hindsight. People would have come after the Wilpons with torches and pitchforks if we didn't re-sign Cespedes, just like if we didn't re-sign David Wright. Both deals made perfect sense at the time. That's the risk that comes with a big contract, and you take the risk if you want the guy. (I'm for giving DeGrom that kind of extension.) I don't regret re-signing them, I regret that it didn't work out. That being said, I no longer think there is room for Cespedes on this team. An AL team in need of a DH would take two-thirds of his salary. Take that, get a centerfielder who can also hit, and let Nimmo and Conforto man the corners.

Agree on all counts but the last part. I don't think anyone's going to take any piece of his salary until he shows he can stay on the field.

[Ceetar]

smg58 wrote: 20/20 hindsight. People would have come after the Wilpons with torches and pitchforks if we didn't re-sign Cespedes

yeah, but, that's a poor reason to do something and I'm worried some garbage reasoning about spending money was why they got Bruce again too.

I was skeptical about Cespedes after 2015, less so after 2016, but it still felt like too much money. But it's not my money and I don't particularly care how much guys make unless it's actively going to prevent them from getting Machado or an infielder going forward, because that's where they needed/need help.

So in that respect even in hindsight it's fine. He's a good hitter and you'd like to have him here. He could not miss another game for all we know about the future.

[Benjamin Grimm]

He also (I think) has a full no-trade clause. So he'd have to agree to any trade, and would possibly demand some kind of additional compensation for his waiver of the no-trade. (Although the chance to go from a losing team to a contender might be all the incentive he needs.)

[metirish]

Absolutely loved it at the time, and all the things he said about wanting to be here, how he found a home here ....if only he could stay healthy, regrets? I have a few

[Centerfield]

I supported it then and still support it now.

Injuries are tough to predict. If you are scared of injuries you can't sign anyone. And he's been productive when healthy.

Plus we had no choice. It's not like it came down to Cespedes or another elite bat we could pick from. Because of our miserly ownership, it was Cespedes or dick. I choose Cespedes.

If it was the case that he wasn't an option, we'd have spent that money on some Michael Cuddyer/Jay Bruce/Todd Frazier bullshit.

[Guest Rockin' Doc]

As I stated in my initial post, I fully supported the deal at the time. His signing has not worked out well to this point, due to recurring muscle strains and injuries. I guess I have grown far more skeptical than most CPF members that he will ever remain on the field enough to produce at a level even remotely commensurate with the salry the Mets are paying him. Since he has a full no trade clause and a high salary, I don't feel the Mets will ever be able to move him. For better or worse, I believe he will be a Met for the duration of this contract.

I think the Mets should try to lock up DeGrom with a 4-5 year extension, but I'm afraid that the money tied up in Cespedes will prevent the Wilpons from making a proper offer.

[ashie62]

Loved at at the time.

Now? Feels like he got the money and quit

Or like Willie Montanez 2.0

[Centerfield]

Mets are 19-16 when Cespedes starts. 13-31 when he doesn’t. Those numbers are consistent with his time here.

The problem is not that we signed him. It’s that we don’t have enough of him or any protection for him.

[TransMonk]

Centerfield wrote: The problem is not that we signed him. It’s that we don’t have enough of him or any protection for him.

Yup.

[Zvon]

I pushed for this, so I can't regret it. Very disappointed in Yo, though.

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[RealityChuck]

Cespedes is injured and takes longer than expected to heal: "What a wimp. He's dogging it."

Syndergaard is injured and takes longer than expected to heal: "Poor Noah. I hope he gets ready soon."

[Ceetar]

RealityChuck wrote: Cespedes is injured and takes longer than expected to heal: "What a wimp. He's dogging it." Syndergaard is injured and takes longer than expected to heal: "Poor Noah. I hope he gets ready soon."

One guy talks to the media more.

[Edgy MD]

One guy wakes up white more.

On the other hand, one guy has a rep for golfing more.

[Ceetar]

Edgy MD wrote: One guy wakes up white more. On the other hand, one guy has a rep for golfing more.

One guy also vowed to stop golfing even though it seemed unlikely it was causing him performance issues.

We don't even know if the other guy golfs.

[Edgy MD]

Hey, I spoke only to the rep, Johnny Throwdown. I fully understand that the fullness of their lives is a mystery to me.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Much was made of the fact that Cespedes didn't join the club when they were in Miami. Apparently most injured players do. I read that Travis d'Arnaud was in the dugout.

I don't know if it's true or not, but it's certainly a possibility that Cespedes doesn't feel terribly motivated to rejoin a terrible team that's going nowhere.

[Edgy MD]

I think it's more likely (and I think it's been reported as such) that he wasn't asked to join the club, for reasons related to his rehab.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Or that could be something that Mickey said in order to quell the controversy. I wouldn't rule that out.

[Edgy MD]

Mickey, you lying fuck!

[smg58]

Cespedes could make his life easier by talking to the people who form the public's impression of him. Personally, I think you can blame his injuries but you shouldn't blame him. He did carry us to a World Series after all, which presumably you don't do if you're not committed to winning.

[batmagadanleadoff]

I wouldn't be surprised if it turned out that Cespedes lied about his age and he's really two or three years older than everyone thinks he is.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Ceetar wrote: Cespedes is injured and takes longer than expected to heal: "What a wimp. He's dogging it." Syndergaard is injured and takes longer than expected to heal: "Poor Noah. I hope he gets ready soon." One guy talks to the media more.

One guy wakes up white more.

I'm sorry, but I call bitter crud biscuits on the notion that fans* are basing this
on race, skin color or ethnicity. What percentage of Mets fans* do you suppose
really are analyzing injury recovery actions based on black, white or whatever?

OE: or the press/blog world

[Edgy MD]

I'd be happy to give you examples of how folks give slack to white guys that black and brown guys don't get. It's all over the place, if largely subsconscious.

[Guest d'Kong76]

I'm 55 years old, don't need that kind of guidance from you. When I
read this yesterday it bothered me all day. I stand by crud biscuit.

First the suggestion (without really suggesting) and then your following
answer is sad. No one is sitting around thinking about it like that.

Except you two, so far.

[Edgy MD]

It happens all the time and every day.

It keeps my white ass off of #MetsTwitter.

[Guest d'Kong76]

I don't go on there, I'll have to take your word for it.

My (our) whole world is daily falling apart piece by piece. Hourly.