Yoenis Cespedes' midseason acquisition helped propel the New York Mets to their first World Series appearance since 2000, but don't expect him back in Queens next season.
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Mets Expect Cespedes to Leave in Free Agency
Monday, Nov. 2
Adam Rubin of ESPN.com reported the Mets are planning to only "modestly pursue" Cespedes when he hits the open market this winter.
"It's too early for that," Cespedes, who indicated he'd like to return to New York, said of his future following the Mets' World Series elimination, per Rubin. "My agent told me that we'll see what's going on around December or so. It's just too early."
Cespedes, 30, hit .287/.337/.604 with 17 home runs and 44 RBI in 57 regular-season games with the Mets. His performance was so impressive it even drew some outside National League MVP buzz despite Cespedes coming over from the American League's Detroit Tigers at the trade deadline.
But while his performance burned hot early on, it regressed to the mean down the stretch. Cespedes did not hit a home run in the Mets' final 16 regular-season games, and he struggled his way through an injury-riddled postseason. A foul ball to his left knee in Sunday night's Game 5 loss to the Kansas City Royals ended his season early, and he battled a hand injury during New York's playoff run.
Overall, he hit .222/.232/.352 with two homers and eight RBI in the playoffs. While far from an ideal outcome, Cespedes' regular-season ascent may wind up taking him out of the Mets' price range in free agency.
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