Cespedes

[Edgy MD]

Yoenis Cespedes does everything but walk, but he really doesn't walk, to judge from recent samples. (Past seasons reflect better, at least in that department.) And the Mets are known to prize a good eye. (Not saying he does everything great, but he does everything.)

But wait, there's more! Yoenis is a free agent at the end of the season.

But that's not all! Cespedes leads the league in outfield assists that don't involve a relay, which I guess should be distinctly counted, and I suppose they are now, by somebody.

Before you decide, know that he owns one of these:

[fimg=550]http://blog.sfgate.com/athletics/files/2014/06/173516223.jpg[/fimg]

And you look at the background, from which you can guess where he earned that belt, and you can safely conclude... absolutely nothing, but... .

Now how much would you pay?

[Zvon]

For that belt? I dunno, it looks kinda pricey.

[Frayed Knot]

Detroit needs pitching (who doesn't?) but there's only so much they could expect from a 1/3 year rental.
Fulmer? Montero? Mejia? Two of those three? One of them plus one of something lesser?


Rumor has it (and Francesa has pronounced it so) that "The Big Four" (deG, Hovvey, Syndy, & Matz) plus Conforto are 'untouchable'. Maybe Wheeler isn't but he's off the market right now for other reasons.
Would you do Nimmo? The at-times rough start for Plawecki certainly isn't going to make him unattractive to teams.


If I knew Wright was actually coming back this year I'd be more gutsy to make a short-term move like this. But, w/o Davey, our offensive woes aren't going to be even partly solved by the addition of one good (though hardly great) bat.

[Edgy MD]

You don't have to solve the offensive woes (tall order under any circumstances), but rather, you only have to make a team better. I mean, you may consider their place in the standings an illusion without Wright, but they got there mostly without him.

The other option distinct from dealing future cards remains to deal off Niese (one of the hottest pitchers in the league right now) or Colon (to a more desperate team) in a contender-to-contender trade.

[ashie62]

I pitched for Cespedes in the preseason and the vibe was largely negative.

What has changed?

[TransMonk]

Frayed Knot wrote: But, w/o Davey, our offensive woes aren't going to be even partly solved by the addition of one good (though hardly great) bat.

This. Cespedes doesn't excite me on his own.

He would arguably become the best Mets batter immediately upon his insertion into the lineup. Unfortunately, that speaks more to how horrible the Mets' offense has been on the whole rather than how much value Cespedes might provide in the middle of the horror.

[Edgy MD]

Ashie62 wrote: I pitched for Cespedes in the preseason and the vibe was largely negative. What has changed?

I don't know. The Mets are shopping and he's reportedly available.

[Edgy MD]

TransMonk wrote: Frayed Knot wrote: But, w/o Davey, our offensive woes aren't going to be even partly solved by the addition of one good (though hardly great) bat. This. Cespedes doesn't excite me on his own. He would arguably become the best Mets batter immediately upon his insertion into the lineup. Unfortunately, that speaks more to how horrible the Mets' offense has been on the whole rather than how much value Cespedes might provide in the middle of the horror.

Yeah, but again, the idea is not to excite you on his own (he doesn't excite me at all) but to suss out what he's worth and whether that's a price the team would or should pay.

I dunno. But living at the corner of "Just Do Something" and "Why Bother?" seems unsustainable.

[nymr83]

his OBPs are gag-worthy, sign me up for Zobrist instead.

He doesnt play CF, doesnt play the infield, and is a huge downgrade from Granderson. Are we giving up on Cuddyer already? because thats the only spot he could fill and i dont think he's an upgrade even there if Cuddyer is at all healthy.

I would pass on trading anything of much value for him as i cant see where he reasonably fits on the team.

[Ceetar]

Nymr83 wrote: his OBPs are gag-worthy, sign me up for Zobrist instead. He doesnt play CF, doesnt play the infield, and is a huge downgrade from Granderson. Are we giving up on Cuddyer already? because thats the only spot he could fill and i dont think he's an upgrade even there if Cuddyer is at all healthy. I would pass on trading anything of much value for him as i cant see where he reasonably fits on the team.

the Cuddyer unhealthy thing is the only reason the Mets would trade for a strict outfielder. Of course, Cuddyer could be non-DLd and still be hurt and it's easy to see how that's been the case for months.

Of course, Maybe this is something you do anyway if the price is right. Worst that happens is you lose Mayberry and Cuddyer and Cespedes (And rotate in some rest for Granderson) would have to fight for time. Mets have 5 more DH games too.

But yeah, I'd prefer Zobrist. he's good, and versatile.

I'd even take Aramis Ramirez and see if you can get some change of scenery spark out of him. He's hitting better than Flores regardless.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I'm not a Cespedes fan, although I could see him being the kind of guy who'd get traded and subsequently get insanely hot. But I'm with nymr, not sure he's what we really want.

[Frayed Knot]

Nymr83 wrote: his OBPs are gag-worthy,

Actually they're not - at least not this season anyway where his .319 OBP clocks in at a few ticks above league average.
What folks need to realize is that this isn't turn of the century baseball anymore when .340-ish OBPs were the norm.


That said, he's at best a short-term replacement for what we hoped Cuddyer would be.
NY Post is talking about either Will Venable or Geraldo Parra with Zobrist being tagged as "a long shot".

I could see him being the kind of guy who'd get traded and subsequently get insanely hot.

You definitely see him as the streaky type, although Boston was hoping for one of those hot streaks when they traded for him last year but didn't get it and had no interest in hanging onto him for this season.

[nymr83]

Actually they're not - at least not this season anyway where his .319 OBP clocks in at a few ticks above league average. What folks need to realize is that this isn't turn of the century baseball anymore when .340-ish OBPs were the norm.

it is true that the league OBP is down, but 1) i think he'll finish under his current number 2) its higher for starting outfielders (.325 or so for outfielders)

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Honestly, he's like rich-man-with-money-to-blow's Marlon Byrd, isn't he?

[Edgy MD]

This guy has the most helium now, doesn't he?

Can fake it in center, too.

Teams trying to make a mad run down the stretch often finding themselves sacrificing up-the-middle defense for bats.

[seawolf17]

I don't even care any more. Cespedes for Harvey, Niese, Matz, and the desiccated corpse of Mets' fans hopes and dreams.

[Edgy MD]

Whoah. Hey, man, sorry I asked.

[seawolf17]

I'm just tired of staring at my Tweetdeck.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

My head hurts from Tweets.

And Cespedes can fake center like Granderson can fake center, only with poorer instincts/more of an arm.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Rival exec tell MLB TV that he/she thinks Mets win Cespedes.

[Edgy MD]

ESPN just announced Cespedes to the Metspedes.

[Guest d'Kong76]

I ain't biting until Coach Cuddy tweets his approval of this move.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

for 2 minor leaguers

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Fulmer and Cessa

[Edgy MD]

I just read a reliable source (@SomeGuyonTwitter) saying Cessa and Fulmer.

[Edgy MD]

Man, the B-Mets have been gutted over and over this month.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Yoenis Cespedes, Professional Hitter

[Guest themetfairy]

Welcome Yoenis!

[Ceetar]

Edgy MD wrote: Man, the B-Mets have been gutted over and over this month.

lost Nimmo too, for different reasons.

[TransMonk]

I like this deal better than the Gomez non-deal.