FanPost

Is it possible for the Mets to resign Yoenis Cespedes in 5 days?

I've heard a lot of grumblings that a 5 day period is not long enough for the Mets to resign Cespedes. Or that a player like Cespedes wouldn't want to forgo his chance at the open market. This fanpost is to level those concerns.

This is just one account, but none-the-less should give you a players view on the situation.

I now quote from Mike Piazza's autobiography "long shot" (which I think is a great read and recommend to anyone who hasn't read it yet)

Steve Phillips did the negotiating for the Mets, the problem being that he had different marching orders in each ear. Just like May, Fred Wilpon was the conservative voice and Nelson Doubleday the enabler. But Doubleday was on safari in Africa. From there, he went Quail hunting in England. The way I heard it, Phillips or somebody reached him on the plane and told him that I wanted a shitload of money and Doubleday said, "Fuck it, sign him!" and hung up the phone....

So they began talking in earnest, and Danny was amazed: Phillips had it all laid out already. He named the teams that would probably get involved with me and the ones who wouldn't and who might sneak in late as a dark horse. Danny had been talking to a few of those clubs and he new that Steve had nailed it . Steve also had phone contact with Fred Wilpon whenever he needed it. He'd step outside, make the call, come in, and report the conversation., and then Danny would step outside and call me. The first offer was a package of $82 million for seven years, a pretty good starting point....

Danny reached me on my big clunky, analog cell phone and said, "hey, the Mets have $91 million on the table...."

I said, "You think you can get ninety-three?"

....When Danny called back, he and Phillips were on a break. The numbers were still at seven years and $91 million, but the Mets had been talking about a limited no-trade agreement, which was another thing the Dodgers hadn't been willing to do. Plus a half-million-dollar relocation bonus if they did trade me. A hotel suite on road trips. A luxery box at Shea. After a while I just said, "i'll take it".

We never talked about making me the highest-paid player in baseball history at the time (surpassing Pedro Martinez) . It just happened, in one day.

Mike Piazza had become the highest paid player ever. He was 4 days away from becoming available to 30 MLB clubs. He instead, signed an extension, and waited another 7 years to become available to all 30 clubs. And it all happened, in 1 day.

These things can happen quickly, as long as the player, and team both know what they want, and are both willing to negotiate.

Of course, this happened before Wilpon became the only owner of the ball club, and before the Madoff scandal. none-the-less, if he is willing to spend on a premium player, things can happen, and quickly.

This is not to say that the Mets will, or should, resign Yoenis Cespedes. It is just saying that if they don't, it wont be because of the clause in his contract.

It would be because the Mets have 4 MLB ready outfielders in Cuddyer, Granderson, Conforto and Lagares (with Nimmo waiting in the wings). however, this isn't necessarily a reason not to resign him, as, when they resigned Piazza, the Mets had Todd Hundley. in Piazza's own words:

... In a three way deal, they also picked up reliever Armando Benitez and traded away Todd Hundley. To the Dodgers, who had decided they needed a catcher who can hit.

Another thing you might want to take out of this article, is how Piazza was the greatest player in the game, and was the highest paid player in the game, and signed a deal for... 7/ 91M!?!?!?

(here is a bonus video that I love about Piazza's greatness. Kudos to whomever made it):

watch.0.html

There are a lot of things that can either contribute to, or against a resigning of Cespedes, but the 5 day clause in his contract, is not likely to be a huge factor.

What can be a huge factor, is YOU! All of you people can help with this cause! Make Cespedes feel loved! don't boo him if he struggles (like piazza says we did him)! Just let him feel your love! fill the ballpark cheer for the team! mourn when we lose, but do not boo! We need to prove to Yoenis Cespedes, what we have always known to be true... That the New York Mets fans, are the greatest fans, in the world!

This FanPost was contributed by a member of the community and was not subject to any vetting or approval process.