Mets out on Cespedes, interested in other right-handed outfielders

The Mets are out on Yoenis Cespedes, says Jon Heyman of CBS, as the team was only willing to offer him a two- or three-year deal. After the Mets acquired him at the trade deadline, Cespedes hit .287/.337/.604. He is seeking a five-to-six year contract. Having recently signed Alejandro De Aza to a one-year, $5.75 million contract, the team is instead targeting a complementary right-handed bat via free agency.

While the Mets have had a busy offseason so far—acquiring Asdrubal Cabrera, Neil Walker, and Alejandro De Aza and re-signing Bartolo Colon and Jerry Blevins—Mets ownership has come under scrutiny for payroll this week, as has been the case for years, and this development will only further stoke the flames.

As for players the Mets might target now, Heyman mentions Steve Pearce as a potential fit. In addition to him, there are a number of right-handed-hitting outfielders who can probably be had on a short-term deal on the market, including Marlon Byrd, Chris Denorfia, Ryan Raburn, and Alex Rios.