Bring Back Ces

[Edgy MD]

Great, A-Rod wanted a tent, and Céspedes needs a whole camp.

#24and1

[Frayed Knot]

So do four teams trying to out-fox each other mean that he gets the fifth year on the contract he wants?

Probably.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Yeah, I think so too.

[Guest cooby]

Zvon wrote: Lefty Specialist wrote: Well, he opted out. Now the game is afoot. [fimg=400]http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/08/14/00/3732024B00000578-0-Jeremy_Brett_failed_to_make_the_shortlist_of_those_being_conside-m-52_1471130375465.jpg[/fimg] And so it is. And now, we wait. Jeremy Brett=best Holmes ever.

Fish I loved that show.

[Centerfield]

All over twitterverse tonight that Cespedes texted the organization and indicated his desire to return. This is per Sandy.

I didn't know you could text the organization as a whole. How do I get this number?

Hey Mets, I would like to get a contract offer too. Text me!

[Fman99]

You just add #ebbetsfield and it goes right to Fred Wilpon's cerebral cortex, I think.

[Ceetar]

Centerfield wrote: All over twitterverse tonight that Cespedes texted the organization and indicated his desire to return. This is per Sandy. I didn't know you could text the organization as a whole. How do I get this number? Hey Mets, I would like to get a contract offer too. Text me!

I mean, yes, of course, this is how negotiations work right? you say "Why yes, this is my first choice I love this place it's so great and a perfect fit"

I plan to tell a recruiter just that today!

[Frayed Knot]

Centerfield wrote: I didn't know you could text the organization as a whole. How do I get this number?

Imagine the shit we'd text, during games or otherwise, if we were to get a hold of such a super-secret number?

Hey @Mets, your last trade sucked and tell Terry to quit bunting so much. Oh yeah, and my frickin' beer isn't cold enuf!!

[Guest d'Kong76]

Print up your Ces signs!
https://www.nysportsday.com/2016/11/17/mancuso-cespedes-decision-to-happen-soon-and-mets-are-first-choice/

[Guest Rockin' Doc]

I would love to have Cespedes back to anchor the heart of the Mets line up, but I'm not sure I want him back if it is going to take 5 years at $100-110 mil. I think the final 2-3 years of such a deal could cripple the Mets in the future. There are some big paydays due to our young pitchers (DeGrom, Syndergaard, Harvey, and Familia) and I would hate to lose some of them while the Mets are overpaying for an aging Cespedes. It's not the amount per year that makes me nervous, but the length of the contract that gives me pause.

[Edgy MD]

Rockin' Doc wrote: ... but I'm not sure I want him back if it is going to take 5 years at $100-110 mil.

I'm thinking we're looking at a price north of that.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Definitely. The contract will average at least $25 million per year. Maybe as much as $30 million.

[Guest Rockin' Doc]

If it is going to take 5 years for 125-150 mil. then I would pass and look elsewhere.

[ashie62]

I have been think 5/125 for sometime unless some team goes rogue.

Mets will have to kiss Yoyo's arse.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Prediction:
5ish years, 120 million clams.
2017 30 clams
2018 25 clams
2019 25 clams
2020 20 clams
Last 20 is a team/player option clam thingy. If the teams wants
him in 2021 he gets the 20 clams. If they don't, he gets a 20 clam
payoff spread over ten year installments.

I'm staying with my feeling that no team is in love with the idea
of throwing too many clams at this guy. He's hurt often and who
knows how old he really is or if he's a juicer (current or former).

I vote Yo, but not for much more than this.

[Benjamin Grimm]

If you're paying a million dollars for a clam, then you're shopping at the wrong supermarket.

[Centerfield]

Rockin' Doc wrote: If it is going to take 5 years for 125-150 mil. then I would pass and look elsewhere.

The problem is finding the elsewhere.

[Centerfield]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: If you're paying a million dollars for a clam, then you're shopping at the wrong supermarket.

You should see the clams. They are big beautiful clams. The best clams. Trust me, they're gonna be amazing.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Jon Heyman (you know, that guy from "Today's Knuckleball") says that the three teams against whom the Mets are competing for Cespedes are the Giants, Dodgers, and Nationals.

The Daily News and the Post can recycle these covers:

[Guest d'Kong76]

SNY is saying Yankees too, Mr. Heyman.

[Centerfield]

The guys is clearly flirting with girls who are our sworn enemies just to make us jealous.

Whatevs.

[Centerfield]

Ok. We get it Ces. Point taken about the Yankees.

We'll talk to Sandy about the fifth year, and you stop being a dick and talking to those assholes. Deal?

[Centerfield]

On a more serious note, there has been little to report substantively on the Cespedes front. I wonder if the offers are not materializing as he would have hoped. And to counter that, his agent is intentionally leaking "interest" from teams designed to freak us out. The MFY's, the Nats, the "wound is still fresh" Giants.

[Guest d'Kong76]

My stance is and always was no other team is going to jump through hoops
for years and years for Yo... we must be patient. It's a holiday week, any calls
to agents and teams likely go to voice mail. Check back to this thread on 12/1,
it's going to be a huge day. Huge, I tell ya.

[Frayed Knot]

The Puma is the Post saying essentially what was being talked about on the previous page, that someone is almost certain to offer Cespedes a fifth year and that it's unclear if the Mets are willing to meet that.

As it stands, the Mets are likely committed to signing the 31-year-old if a four-year contract in the $100 million-$110 million neighborhood can be hammered out, according to an industry source, but there is less clarity on the matter when an additional year — which could push the value of a deal beyond $130 million — is considered.
"Out of the teams that are interested, somebody will offer five years,” an industry source said. “And the Nationals wouldn’t surprise me.”

[Zvon]

I'd be okay with Stanton. Yo, you wanna flirt with the Yanks? We can play that game.

According to Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe, one of the biggest—literally—sluggers on the market could be available. In a column listing players with big contracts that could be traded this winter, Miami Marlins star Giancarlo Stanton was named. One of his possible destinations should the Marlins actually explore his market: The Mets. Where will Yoenis Cespedes sign in free agency? The Marlins don't want to break up their offense, but with the death of Jose Fernandez, Stanton's name does pop up more often.

http://www.nj.com/mets/index.ssf/2016/11/mlb_trade_rumors_marlins_giancarlo_stanton_to_mets.html

[Benjamin Grimm]

That's really the flimsiest of rumors. It seems very unlikely that Stanton will be traded to the Mets, and if he is, the deal will have to include someone of the caliber of Syndergaard or deGrom. The Mets won't get him for Neil Allen and Rick Ownbey.

[Frayed Knot]

Especially when you figure that Allen is nearly 60 years old at this point. Not sure why the Marlins would even consider him.

[Centerfield]

Frayed Knot wrote: The Puma is the Post saying essentially what was being talked about on the previous page, that someone is almost certain to offer Cespedes a fifth year and that it's unclear if the Mets are willing to meet that. As it stands, the Mets are likely committed to signing the 31-year-old if a four-year contract in the $100 million-$110 million neighborhood can be hammered out, according to an industry source, but there is less clarity on the matter when an additional year — which could push the value of a deal beyond $130 million — is considered. "Out of the teams that are interested, somebody will offer five years,” an industry source said. “And the Nationals wouldn’t surprise me.”

It seems pretty clear that the Mets have put the four year deal on the table and that the Cespedes guys have said they are looking for at least five. It's also fairly obvious that no one, thus far, has offered five years, or else we would have seen movement. And of course the Mets should keep it quiet on whether they are willing to go to five. You can't expect your four year offer to be accepted if you are whispering to your girlfriends that you'd gladly go five.

I think in light of this, Sandy feels no obligation to blink first, probably confident that in the event a five year deal materializes, he'll get one last crack at it before Ces goes elsewhere (maybe this courtesy was bought by Tim Tebow). And he is probably fairly confident that if he can match the best offer out there, that he can get his man. Let's hope that this is true.

I get that this is the prudent approach. It does pose risks though. If negotiations drag past the CBA date, it could allow someone like the Dodgers to get into the mix. Also, if Encarnacion signs first, Sandy runs the risk that a loser in the Edwin Sweepstakes comes in with a foolish, stupid high, reactionary 7 year deal.

On the other hand, it takes two to tango, and the risk is that if you move aggressively now, Cespedes may still not commit, and then you've just bid against yourself for no reason. GM-ing is hard.

Maybe they should just pull the trigger on this Stanton trade. Can't trade Neil Allen though. Obviously. He has already been signed by the Braves.

[ashie62]

I want Cespedes and Stanton both now!