Re-Sign Cespedes

[Edgy MD]

I'm sorry my observation invokes desperate prayer. I'm responding to a statement from Transmonk, and my response is rooted in reason. There shouldn't be a whole lot of extra-contextual meaning extrapolated from that.

I think the idea that answers should only come from the outside and dramatic offseason transacting and not be the result of years of building doesn't hold up. And I think harvesting from the fruits of those years of building isn't "doing dick."

OE: Nonetheless, I expect there will be transacting and nothing I wrote should imply advocacy for or a prediction to the contrary.

[Guest El Segundo Escupidor]

I like both the CarGo and Colby Rasmus idea

[Edgy MD]

Rasmus disturbs me. He always looks like some guy who stole my bike when I was 11.

[fimg=400:tp4jnttc]http://www.joesportsfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/colby-rasmus-2013.jpg[/fimg:tp4jnttc]

[Centerfield]

Edgy MD wrote: I'm sorry my observation invokes desperate prayer. I'm responding to a statement from Transmonk, and my response is rooted in reason. I think the idea that answers should only come from the outside and dramatic offseason transacting and not be the result of years of building doesn't hold up. And I think harvesting from the fruits of those years of building isn't "doing dick." OE: Nonetheless, I expect there will be transacting and nothing I wrote should imply advocacy for or a prediction to the contrary.

The Mets just played 2 games with their head up their ass. It doesn't take much to invoke desperate prayer from me these days.

I agree we can hope to get some improvement over the course of the year from Conforto, d'Arnaud, and hopefully a healthy Wright. And that is fine. But if it's March, and Sandy is using this logic as a justification for why he did not replace the production lost from Murphy and Cespedes I'll fucking lose it.

Everyone is entitled to harvest the fruits of your player development. That's good. But it's not going to be enough. We need to replace the thunder that we are likely to lose.

Last winter the Mets were a cleanup hitter away from putting a great team on the field. They failed. They signed Michael Cuddyer and hoped to get away with it. That move, not surprisingly, was not enough.

It wasn't until they got a real cleanup hitter that they became NL Champions. Now he's likely gone.

He needs to be replaced.

[Centerfield]

And for the record, I have the utmost faith in Sandy Alderson. I think he's earned it. No matter what happened against KC, he fucking rocked it this July, and showed us all what he can do.

The Wilpons are the issue here. If they fund this team, we will be one of the favorites for the post-season for years to come. If they handcuff Sandy again, we're fucked.

[Guest d'Kong76]

[fimg=400:3knsbpxi]http://www.kcmets.com/CPF/rasmus.jpg[/fimg:3knsbpxi]

[Centerfield]

Edgy MD wrote: Rasmus disturbs me. He always looks like some guy who stole my bike when I was 11. [fimg=400]http://www.joesportsfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/colby-rasmus-2013.jpg[/fimg]

Wow. Is that what he looks like? He's 47 years old!

[Edgy MD]

d'Kong76 wrote: [fimg=400]http://www.kcmets.com/CPF/rasmus.jpg[/fimg]

<>

[Ceetar]

Centerfield wrote: It wasn't until they got a real cleanup hitter that they became NL Champions. Now he's likely gone.

Yoenis Cespedes was 1/8 with a walk and a -.0038 WPA in his first two games with the Mets against the Nats. That was the only time the Mets weren't in first place with Cespedes. He certainly helped put them away, especially in the next series, but he was merely a part of a bigger picture, one that included Wright and d'Arnauds return.

[Edgy MD]

And the promotion of Conforto. And the acquisition of Uribe. And the acquisition of Johnson. And heck, the healthy return of an unhealthy Cuddyer. It's like seven good or better major league hitters showing up at once. That suddenly knocked some regulars or semi-regulars down to second or third string to clear off the team in some cases.

It was, in retrospect, awesome. And it pleases me to think back on it.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

We don't Cespedes back, we just need a way to replace his contributions. Not to say we couldn't still use him but consider: He's not a good centerfielder, we have 3 outfielders already under contract, Nimmo on the way, and lots of possibilities in the trade/FA market, and he basically cost us the World Series. We should be thankful the best 6 weeks of his career were with us and move on.

[TransMonk]

We don't Cespedes back, we just need a way to replace his contributions. Not to say we couldn't still use him but consider: He's not a good centerfielder, we have 3 outfielders already under contract, Nimmo on the way, and lots of possibilities in the trade/FA market, and he basically cost us the World Series. We should be thankful the best 6 weeks of his career were with us and move on.

This. Especially the part in bold.

[seawolf17]

Let him go. You can't overpay for one amazing month. Thanks for the memories, friend.

[batmagadanleadoff]

I agree too. But I'll add that the Mets are gonna let him go no matter what we say. They'll let him go even if we all wanted him back. In fact, I'd say that the Mets are gonna let Cespedes go even if they themselves wanted him back.

[fimg=555:1b4ab6vz]http://d3vsdfvkxh87qp.cloudfront.net/articles_images/v7/1420502128717/image.jpg[/fimg:1b4ab6vz]

[Benjamin Grimm]

Really?

Huh!

I guess there's not much point discussing anything at all then, is there?

[Ceetar]

It does really depend on what the market is for him. He's still a good player. Especially since he cooled down in September and October (but you know, was hurt..) I doubt people are looking to give him 6 years. But perhaps his passable CF raised his value and who knows if it'd drop to what might actually be a reasonable price.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Really? Huh! I guess there's not much point discussing anything at all then, is there?

Why do you say that?

[Benjamin Grimm]

In response to your pointing out the obvious:

the Mets are gonna let him go no matter what we say. They'll let him go even if we all wanted him back.

[Centerfield]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: We don't Cespedes back, we just need a way to replace his contributions. Not to say we couldn't still use him but consider: He's not a good centerfielder, we have 3 outfielders already under contract, Nimmo on the way, and lots of possibilities in the trade/FA market, and he basically cost us the World Series. We should be thankful the best 6 weeks of his career were with us and move on.

Agreed. But I just don't see how they are going to replace his production with the options that they have.

Maybe I'm not seeing all the angles, but the only guy I can see replacing Cespedes is Yoenis Cespedes.

(And that Upton/Granderson option I discussed earlier but that seems really far-fetched).

[batmagadanleadoff]

Do you think it's so obvious?

[Guest d'Kong76]

Ceetar wrote: But perhaps his passable CF raised his value

Perhaps, to a kick bucket basketball squad looking for a CF.

[Benjamin Grimm]

batmagadanleadoff wrote: Do you think it's so obvious?

It's obvious that we have no effect on what the Mets do or don't do.

[nymr83]

I think a Cespedes re-signing would end up being a contract the Mets would regret. He had a nice little run, thank him for it and move on.

[Zvon]

I'm on the fence. I only know he's not getting a 7 year deal here (or 6 for that matter). So let's see what the market dictates.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: In response to your pointing out the obvious: the Mets are gonna let him go no matter what we say. They'll let him go even if we all wanted him back.

I was just being goofy with that line. It's not as if I thought that that really needed to be explained.

[Mex17]

Centerfield wrote: I'm sorry my observation invokes desperate prayer. I'm responding to a statement from Transmonk, and my response is rooted in reason. I think the idea that answers should only come from the outside and dramatic offseason transacting and not be the result of years of building doesn't hold up. And I think harvesting from the fruits of those years of building isn't "doing dick." OE: Nonetheless, I expect there will be transacting and nothing I wrote should imply advocacy for or a prediction to the contrary. The Mets just played 2 games with their head up their ass. It doesn't take much to invoke desperate prayer from me these days. I agree we can hope to get some improvement over the course of the year from Conforto, d'Arnaud, and hopefully a healthy Wright. And that is fine. But if it's March, and Sandy is using this logic as a justification for why he did not replace the production lost from Murphy and Cespedes I'll fucking lose it. Everyone is entitled to harvest the fruits of your player development. That's good. But it's not going to be enough. We need to replace the thunder that we are likely to lose. Last winter the Mets were a cleanup hitter away from putting a great team on the field. They failed. They signed Michael Cuddyer and hoped to get away with it. That move, not surprisingly, was not enough. It wasn't until they got a real cleanup hitter that they became NL Champions. Now he's likely gone. He needs to be replaced.

Or retained.

[MFS62]

A procedural question here. Cespedes was acquired with a clause in his contract that said any team of which he is a member at the end of the season had five days to sign him or not be able to re-sign him until next April. Mets fans breathed a sigh of relief when that restriction was renegotiated.
But, IIRC, there was another restriction. Because he played for several teams this year, he is not eligible to receive a qualifying offer. A qualifying offer would entitle the Mets to receive a compensatory draft pick.
The reason I'm asking is I have heard several of the WFAN and ESPN talking heads say that if the Mets make one to him and Murphy, at least they would gain a draft pick

My question, was that non-compensation waived in Conforto's deal as well? (Or is it mandatory in the CBA?)
A huge one year qualifying offer might make resigning with the Mets very attractive to him.

Later

[Benjamin Grimm]

No, the Qualifying Offer option is not available for Cespedes.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

No QO pick for any in-season acquisitions.

The sort of contact Cespedes could/will demand-- 5-plus years, the sort of dollar load that would severely constrict Metly ability to take on money in trades, etc.-- would likely be the sort of contract that Met stewards would regret.

Honestly, I'm more concerned with getting Lagares healthy, keeping d'Arnaud so, and developing the Herreras and such... all of which would go a long way toward replacing Cespedes' production (in impact, if not in shape). Rasmus seems like he'd be more cost-effective for the value, but I have my doubts about that, too. Son might be the best bet for FA offense at a reasonable price, blind bet or no (with Heyward, Upton, and YoYo all on the market as price checks).

Edited November 4, 2015 by Guest

[Ceetar]

MFS62 wrote: A procedural question here. Cespedes was acquired with a clause in his contract that said any team of which he is a member at the end of the season had five days to sign him or not be able to re-sign him until next April. Mets fans breathed a sigh of relief when that restriction was renegotiated. But, IIRC, there was another restriction. Because he played for several teams this year, he is not eligible to receive a qualifying offer. A qualifying offer would entitle the Mets to receive a compensatory draft pick. The reason I'm asking is I have heard several of the WFAN and ESPN talking heads say that if the Mets make one to him and Murphy, at least they would gain a draft pick My question, was that non-compensation waived in Conforto's deal as well? (Or is it mandatory in the CBA?) A huge one year qualifying offer might make resigning with the Mets very attractive to him. Later

You mean Cespedes in your question.

It's a mandatory part of the CBA. Players traded mid-season are not eligible for qualifying offers. The Mets get nothing if/when Cespedes signs with another team.

The rule that required them to sign him within 5 days was a little more complicated and seemed to be part of some older rules/pre-QO put in place. I don't recall the exact reasons since it doesn't matter, but the crux of it was that teams that didn't retain their own guys had to wait until May 15th to re-sign them.

Mets will get the draft pick for Murphy if he signs elsewhere after they make him the QO. They almost definitely won't make anyone else an offer (like Parnell or Colon)