The New York Mets’ universe keeps generating news and rumors. After the signing of Rick Porcello and Michael Wacha, one of the bullpen aces that were gunning for the fifth rotation spot expressed his disappointment.
Meanwhile, the reduction of Yoenis Cespedes’ salary generated trade interest around the league.
Here are the Mets’ news and rumors of the day:
SI.com: The New York Mets invested significant resources to bring Michael Wacha and Rick Porcello to start. Seth Lugo, however, had other plans. According to SI.com, he is “disappointed†because he was “under the impression†that the fifth spot in the rotation was his to lose.
“I’m going to come in and show them that I somehow prepared over the offseason for what my goals for spring were and hopefully I can stretch out a little bit, but I understand what’s going on. I’m going to keep working at what I want and that’s the way I’m going to approach it,†he said.
In 2017, he went 7-5 with a 4.71 ERA as a starter for the Mets. He has been much more dominant in the bullpen.
MLB Network Radio: According to MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM, Yoenis Cespedes told baseball analyst Eduardo Perez that he could hit 52 home runs next season. “Cespedes told me ‘I’m going out with a bang this year. I’m not just going to hit forty home runs, I’ll be out there for 140+ games’.â€
Cespedes is currently working to come back from multiple heel surgeries and an ankle fracture. He is already running, throwing, and taking batting practice. The Mets, for now, remain cautious, but it seems Cespedes wants to shine in 2020.
Would he be open to a trade?
Anthony DiComo: Speaking of Cespedes, Anthony DiComo explored the trade rumors that appeared yesterday and that the Mets are allegedly considering. The report states that multiple teams asked about the outfielder’s availability.
DiComo writes that while the 34-year-old “insisted on a full no-trade clause when he signed his four-year, $110 million contract before the 2017 season,†he has incentives to waive it.
He notes that for starters, he would be playing against a team that successfully filed a grievance and took away almost two thirds of his guaranteed deal. And two, since he now has to earn his money on the field through incentives, he needs to play.
Cespedes went from having $29.5 million guaranteed in 2020 to less than $10 million. He can approach the former number through on-field incentives. That’s why he can benefit from playing as a DH in the American League. The impression around the league is that the Mets would be open to a trade.