Back in the New York Groove


Mets fans got their holiday present 27 days early. While Christmas and Hanukkah both arrive the night before December 25th, the news broke yesterday that Yoenis Cespedes had agreed to a four-year $110 million deal to remain a Met. The Cuban expat, who'd thrived in his season and a half in Flushing, totaled 31 homers and 86 RBI in 2016. His decision to remain with the Mets takes the best all around player off the free agent market. Perhaps it now raises the price for Edwin Encarnacion or Jose Bautista.
And it might even signal a trend. This contract carries Cespedes through his age-35 season. Unlike the deals signed by Albert Pujols, Robinson Cano and Miguel Cabrera, this doesn't commit a ballclub to be paying for a player closer to 40 than 30, when skills erode and bodies turn brittle. The Mets got their man, if not at a bargain, at least in a rational deal.
OK, he's a character, maybe bordering on diva. Cespedes loves playing golf -- sometimes to the detriment of his play. And those weird and wild cars we saw last spring training might be modest in comparison to Cespedes' new wheels next time around. Of course, he can afford them and plenty more.
Bottom line: the Mets keep their big bat, a player who thrives in the big stage of New York. And Mets fans won't be able to criticize ownership for being cheap. Looks like a win-win all around.


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