A couple of days ago, MetsBlog posted video of Yoenis Cespedes working out in Port St. Lucie. The video showed him running, taking BP and making a fun catch with a rifle throw.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1219347124485349376
Not bad for a guy who missed all of last year and most of the previous one. If he’s able to do all of this in January, one would think he would be able to play in Grapefruit League games more than a month from now.
Which makes one wonder why the Starling Marte rumors persist, especially if they don’t want to include Brandon Nimmo in a potential deal.
My expectation is that – much like the Mets with Noah Syndergaard or the Indians with Francisco Lindor – there’s more smoke than fire here. But it doesn’t make the constant rumors any easier to stomach.
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Here’s a picture of Cespedes from a Spring Training game in February of 2018, when he hit a HR.
If you click on the link below, there’s a brief video of the HR
https://www.mlb.com/mets/news/mets-dominic-smith-has-strained-right-quad-c267183666
If trade talks have in fact been restarted between the Mets and Bucs, it would be interesting to know who called who . .are the Pirates now lowering the price to do a salary dump and full rebuild, or do the Mets have more up their sleeves than is known. . ??
At any rate, I don’t think there is enough room in that outfield for both Cespedes and Marte (and Nimmo, and Conforto, and Davis, And Marisnick, and Smith).
Ultimately and realistically, Cespedes would be better off on an AL team as a DH and part time OF – perhaps a three way deal with the Rangers, Pirates and Mets could work in some way.
My 1st reaction to the photo: our guy looks massively out of shape. Maybe it’s the camera?
Me too Pete. First thing I thought was, damn, that guy is *fat* for an elite athlete.
I updated the article to include a picture of Cespedes from Spring Training in 2018.
Cespedes certainly isn’t svelte. But I’m less concerned that he look like prime Daryl Strawberry and more concerned that’s he’s able to run and hit and throw at an age-based level compared where he was at previously.
Give me an educated guess to how many pounds he’s away from that new photo from two years ago.
15lbs
I don’t believe that’s an unreasonable guess. I also think he can drop 10 pounds before the regular season starts in late March.
30
It is good to see Cespedes making positive strides in his recovery. If he recovers almost fully then he would be a better option in left field than JD Davis because they are similar offensely but Cespedes is defensively superior.
I don’t understand the Marte rumours either. The Pirates are looking for time/cost prospects and other teams have more to offer than the Mets.
Every day that Mets don’t have a manager selected from the first set of interviews lends suspicion that the process was a sham.
Mets sign Rene Rivera to minor league deal again.
At the risk of rotten fruit being thrown at me, I must say that yous people sure as hell complain a lot. Everyone here thinks that the Cano/Kelenic trade was worse than when Ruth was traded for $100K
Yous people talk about Kelenic like he’s certain to outdo Trout when all is said and done. You poor long-suffering Mets fans; try being a Padres or Mariners fan
And speaking of incredible luck for the Halos landing that huge fish, how lucky were we to snag JdG in the ninth (capital letters implied) round? Eh?
Despite the distaste for Cano’s contract/age and Yo’s blubber, I predict that their pride as human beings will yield better results than any of yous expect this year
Jose, wes just passing the time…
Report
Mets hire new manager. Luis Rojas.
They avoid a strongly experienced manager.
Surprise, surprise.
I am ok with Rojas. I think an important piece will be to see if Hensley Meulens stays.
I agree with JimO on Rojas.
Regarding Yo, weight to me is no issue…he can beat most of us in a race today and will likely drop a handful of lbs. by opening day.
Regarding Marte, it doesn’t make any sense unless it is combined with something else…which scares me…I’d rather roll the dice with Cespedes and add another arm like McHugh.
Well, we won’t have to hear any additional Starling Marte chatter. He’s been traded to the D’Backs for two prospects, neither a Top 100 guy.