How will Yoenis Cespedes’s Career as a Met be Remembered?

In a very weird and strange set of circumstances, Yoenis Cespedes’s Mets career came to an unexpected end this weekend.

BREAKING: Yoenis Céspedes did not show up to the ballpark today, nor give the Mets any explanation why.

In a statement, the Mets say their attempts to contact him "have been unsuccessful."

— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) August 2, 2020

After not reporting to the stadium for their Sunday game against the Braves, the Mets were unsuccessful in trying to contact him. They later learned through his agent that Cespedes decided to opt out of the remainder of the season.

UPDATE: Yoenis Céspedes has decided not to play the remainder of the season for COVID-19 related reasons.

— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) August 2, 2020

Mets Career

Cespedes single handedly turned the Mets season around in 2015. After the trade for Carlos Gomez fell through, I was convinced the Mets were going to sit out the trade deadline once again. Just before 4pm on July 31, 2015, the trade for Cespedes was announced. They parted with pitching prospects Michael Fulmer and Luis Cessa. When Cespedes arrived in Queens, he made an immediate impact.

He ignited a Mets line-up that was stagnant for most of the season. In 57 regular season games with the Mets in 2015, he hit 17 home runs and drove in 44 runs. For perspective, he hit 18 home runs, and drove in 61 runs in 102 games for the Tigers. He carried that team on his back and led them to their first playoff appearance since 2006.

Polarizing Career

He spent most of the next couple seasons injured. With his rigorous weight lifting regimen, Cespedes was often injured and not able to play. Most recently, he had severe build up of calcium in both of his heels that hindered his ability to walk. While rehabbing at his ranch in Florida, he fractured his ankle while avoiding a charging boar. In the later part of his Mets career, he made way more headlines off the field than on it; like showing up to spring training on horseback.

He had a ton of on-field success in Queens when he first arrived. His off-field antics soon took over the headlines. This was the last year of a four-year contract so he was not going to be re-signed regardless of what happened this season, but the way his Mets career ended, certainly came as a surprise to fans and the team alike.

Final Thoughts

Cespedes was one of the best trades this franchise has ever made. He led them to an NL East title in 2015 and then a Wild Card birth in 2016. He was one of the most electrifying players this franchise has seen in recent memory. However, I can’t say I am sad to see Cespedes go. Yes he was a very talented ball player, but he has barely played the last couple years, so fans got used to him not being in the line up. His contract was terrible so hopefully with the freed money (and Steve Cohen as owner), the Mets can move forward and make a splash this upcoming offseason.

-Pete Chatterton (@Pchat12)