On July 31, 2015, the Mets, for the first time in just under a decade, pulled the trigger and made a splash acquiring Cuban-born slugger outfielder Yoenis Cespedes. It is well-documented GM Sandy Alderson hit a home run with this trade. Although the Mets dealt away the prized right-hander Michael Fulmer, the deal became fruitful immediately. In 57 regular season games Cespedes had 66 hits, 17 homeruns, 44 RBIs, and a .337 OBP. He becomes the offensive catalyst Mets fans haven't quite seen since Carlos Beltran sported blue and orange. He accumulated a stat line for the 2015 season with both Detroit and New York 184 hits, 35 homeruns, 105 RBIs, and a .328 OBP. The nickname 'La Potencia' (The Power) indeed was shown throughout the 2015 season, which brought upon the argument, "what do the Mets do now with Cespedes in free agency?"
We all know the Mets fell short losing in the World Series, leaving all fans in dismay, extending our misfortunes to a 30th year without a title. We all know the Mets four aces under contract (deGrom, Harvey, Syndergaard, and Matz). As the offseason developed we re-signed 'Big Sexy' Bartolo Colon and his probable 9,000 daily calorie intake. We know the Mets swapped Jon Niese for Neil Walker. We know the Mets signed shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera. We know the Mets re-signed Jerry Blevins and signed Antonio Bastardo to bolster the left side of the bullpen. Finally, we know the Mets re-signed Yoenis Cespedes.
Prior to the re-signing of Cespedes, yes the Mets did get better, but realistically by how much? Walker installed at second base improves the defense and provides more power, meanwhile Daniel Murphy will be Daniel Murphy in Washington D.C. and hit .280/10/40. Plenty of teams would have pursued him on the market if it weren't for the qualifying offer and draft pick attached to his name. For Cabrera, yes he is surely an upgrade from Wilmer Flores and Ruben Tejada offensively. In 2015 Cabrera posted .265/15/58, which ranks in the top half of the league in shortstops. However, he is known around the league for his lack of range and a defensive liability. The bullpen, on the other hand, is unpredictable weather. Bullpens around baseball are patched together on a yearly basis and most of the time reinvented come the trade deadline for contenders, hence last year's acquiring of Tyler Clippard and Addison Reed. So adding Blevins and Bastardo on paper looks good. If I were a degenerate gambler I would bet the Mets improve 1-3 games between those two players.
This leaves us with morbidly obese pop culture icon DJ Khaled, who has influenced me to use the term that Yoenis Cespedes is the MAJOR KEY to 2016. If the Mets were unable to add Cespedes in center field, both Juan Lagares and Alejandro De Aza would occupy the area on a platoon basis. Michael Conforto, the highly touted prospect would hone left field, and the most awkward, well-spoken man on the face of the earth Curtis Granderson would continue to make right field in Queens his bitch. Together these two solidify the corner outfield spots. Center field would have been a real shame and soft spot without Cespedes, and to add salt to the wound Mets fans would have been left with the taste of his career year. By all means this is not bashing the young gold glover Juan Lagares, because he does have offensive potential and his glove is well within the top 5 in the league.
This thirst for Cespedes to return was all about the win-now mode the Mets are now forced upon, after the unexpected World Series run. If the Dodgers bounced the Mets in October, fans would certainly have been upset, but the expectation is now to cruise through the National League and return to the October Classic. Having a taste of the promised land left the fans with zero patience, especially after the Wilpon family left us watching paint dry for years. Am I expecting Cespedes to replicate the numbers of 2015 or do better? No. Fangraphs projects Cespedes and his 2016 campaign to produce a line of .259/26/83, which continues to be a force to be reckoned with. Lagares on the other hand, would be projected to produce .257/5/30 for every 81 games, which could be dangerous due to the fact he does not hit lefty pitching.
No comments:
Post a Comment