Yoenis Cespedes

The reason this is happening should have never happened.

The trade that has helped lead the New York Mets to so much recent good fortune was one the team's front office was not even considering until circumstances pushed it toward alternatives.

The Mets thought they had their outfield trade acquisition just before the July 31 non-waiver deadline, but it was not Yoenis Cespedes.

1. Clayton K-K-K-K-K-K…ershaw

The season's silliest moment, and it's not even close, came when the Los Angeles Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw was not originally named to the National League All-Star team and instead was listed among the NL's final-five fan vote.

Are you kidding?

Yoenis Cespedes has been a game-changer for the New York Mets ever since landing in Queens.

As the MLB playoff chase hits the stretch drive, there isn't a single major leaguer who will have a bigger impact in determining how the race will shake out for his given team than the Cuban masher.

In the process of compiling the list of the 10 crucial MLB players who will decide the September pennant race outcomes, three types of big leaguers made the grade.

When you were as bad at offense as the New York Mets were, any slight upgrade is not only noticeable, it is celebrated. 

That was the case when the team traded for Juan Uribe and Kelly Johnson, players with limited offensive abilities but certainly no worse than what it already ran out there every day. But the next upgrade was major, and it looks to have completely transformed the Mets from a meek attack to one with the potential to be good.

The Seattle Mariners need a cleanup hitter. What position that hitter plays remains to be seen. The club was reportedly interested in shortstop Hanley Ramirez, but it lost out on the former Dodger when he signed with the Red Sox.

With Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez reportedly set to sign with the Boston Red Sox, per ESPN.com, the team addressed its hitting woes from a year ago. But with plenty of options in the outfield and needing other pieces elsewhere, namely starting pitching, the team is reportedly shopping Yoenis Cespedes.

What's great news for Jose Abreu, the Chicago White Sox first baseman who deservedly won the American League Rookie of the Year on Monday evening, is even better news for his fellow countrymen.

The Boston Red Sox continued their radical new approach to rebuilding on Saturday, announcing the signing of Cuban outfielder Rusney Castillo to a seven-year Major League Baseball contract—reportedly worth $72.5 million—

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