Yoenis Cespedes has thrived since joining the Mets and the organization reportedly wants him to be a part of its future. Cespedes is set to become a free agent at the end of the season, and according to CBS Sports' Jon Heyman, the Mets are "expected to make a serious play" for him again this winter.
New York and Cespedes' agent, Brodie Van Wagenen, recently decided to remove a clause from his contract that would delay the Mets' ability to get involved in the free agent signing process. The Mets are thriving within the National League East and appear to be in position to earn a playoff spot. Cespedes' versatility, most notably his "willingness to play center field," has led the Mets to consider an extension, Heyman notes.
Before Cespedes was acquired, the Mets had difficulty scoring runs on a consistent basis. However, since he joined the club, the Mets have been one of the highest-scoring teams in all of baseball.
Although a deep playoff push might encourage Cespedes to remain in New York moving forward, several other teams will likely be interested in adding his bat to their respective lineups. The Tigers, Mariners, Rangers, Giants, Phillies, Angels and Cubs all could make sense, Heyman points out.
While he is expected to draw a notable amount of interest, Cespedes will not be the only notable free agent outfielder available. Justin Upton, Alex Gordon and Jason Heyward might also be candidates to start in new outfields in 2016.
Cespedes, 29, is batting .299/.334/.557 to complement 33 home runs and 100 RBIs through 140 games this season. His named has been mentioned in MVP conversations and he has already tied his career high for RBIs and established a new career high for home runs in a single season.
New York made a serious push to sign Robinson Cano and is expected to do the same for Cespedes. Whether they can get a deal done or not might depend on how the club performs in the postseason.