The last thing the New York Mets and their fans thought they’d be dealing with is an excess of talent on their roster this season, especially in the outfield.
That is becoming a distinct possibility with each passing day in Port St. Lucie as former All-Star outfielder Yoenis Cespedes is proving to be healthier than they anticipated this spring. They weren’t expecting the oft-injured slugger to be ready by mid-season at the soonest, but he’s crowing that he’s going to be ready long before that. He’s feeling so good that he’s breaking his vow to ignore the media this season.
From Anthony DiComo of MLB.com:
Céspedes remains confident that, at age 34, he can contribute a vintage season. He called the idea of hitting 40 home runs “possible,†albeit “all dependent on my legs.†Already this spring, Céspedes has impressed Mets manager Luis Rojas and other coaches in live batting practice, nearly hitting a home run off Michael Wacha on the first day of those drills.
He intends to continue progressing. Asked how motivated he is on a scale of 1 to 10, Céspedes answered immediately in English: “Twelve.â€
“I’m feeling good out there,†he added. “I think if my legs are ready for Opening Day, I’ll be ready to go.â€
If Cespedes is ready to play and the Mets have to take him north for Opening Day, that would send a chain reaction throughout their roster. They were planning to play the majority of this season without him (and who could blame them?) and have basically moved on from him.
Cespedes’ return will have a direct effect on who plays where this season at several positions. Since he can really only play left field at this point of his career, that would shift either Brandon Nimmo or Michael Conforto to centerfield and put a crimp in the playing time of J.D. Davis and Jake Marisnick. It also would keep Jeff McNeil at third base unless needed in an emergency.
That also limits the outfield possibilities for Dominic Smith, who is stuck behind Pete Alonso at first base.
It is a good problem to have, but not the one the Mets were hoping for. They would rather keep Nimmo and Conforto in the corners with Marisnick playing center while getting Davis as many at bats as possible, either in the outfield or at third when McNeil shifts to second base to spell Robinson Cano.
Adding a healthy Cespedes to a lineup that already has Alonso, McNeil, Conforto along with Nimmo, Cano, shortstop Amed Rosario and catcher Wilson Ramos has to excite the Mets and their fans. 2020 could end up being when all the bad finally turns to good for this team.