Tony Plate - Cespedes Has Opted Out

                                           

Yoenis Cespedes has opted out from the season due to COVID-19 concerns. His departure from the Mets is also puzzling. He didn’t show up for Sunday’s game against the Braves. Team officials didn’t know where he was. Brodie Van Wagenen issued a statement that Cespedes wasn’t at the stadium and attempts to call him were unsuccessful. They sent security to his hotel room and found out that Cespedes checked out of the hotel.

Cespedes’s agent finally called team officials during the eighth inning and notified them that Cespedes opted out. The agent and the player could have handled the situation better by calling team officials at least the day before to notify them that he was opting out. Communication is of the utmost importance at any job, but things like this happen in sports between players and team officials on occasion.

Apparently, there was tension between Cespedes and team officials during last week over playing time since Cespedes has an incentive type of contract. He complained twice to Brodie and Luis Rojas about being removed from the starting lineup. It was unfortunate that this type of situation took place. The manager does try to put the best lineup out on the field during each game.

 On opening day Cespedes hit the home run that helped the Mets to victory. It was rewarding for him, because he felt that he had to prove some fans and media wrong that no longer had confidence in him, however Cespedes currently was hitting .161 with 15 strikeouts. Needless to say, he was frustrated.

Things began well for Cespedes, who worked very hard during the off-season and during spring training. He was at camp since the onset of when pitchers and catchers reported. Cespedes had predicted that he would hit fifty home runs in 2020. He had posted videos that showed him hitting, running, throwing, catching and working out in the weight room.

At that time, he was determined to do well since he had lost thirty million dollars due to injuries and he was hoping to acquire a few incentives. As I recall since he didn’t begin the season on the disabled list his salary did increase to eleven million and plate appearances could have added another nine million to his salary, which needless to say was on his mind. 

Things in sports can change fast. In 2016 he signs the big contract; he is out for two years and now he has opted out. His contribution to the 2015 team was one of the best in Met history.