The Mets’ pursuit of Yoenis Cespedes is being interrupted by CBA talks

Major league players and owners are expected to come to terms on a new collective bargaining agreement before the deadline this Thursday, but until that actually happens, baseball’s hot stove will remain relatively cool.

According to the Post, the lack of a finalized CBA means that ownership groups don’t know what the luxury tax threshold will be. That in turn means that the franchises’ budgets aren’t defined. Until the budgets are defined, no one is going to blow $120 million on an outfielder that they might not be able to afford.

We already knew that the Mets’ top free agent target Yoenis Cespedes would likely remain a free agent until baseball’s winter meetings begin on December 4, but now it seems almost certain that he’ll go unsigned until the annual get-together kicks off in National Harbor, Maryland.

If talks between the players and owners break down, fans will have to wait even longer for juicy free agent rumors. That’s because no new CBA means no winter meetings. The good news is that both sides are working hard this week to pound out a solution that will allow us to enjoy the five-day frenzy that often highlights baseball’s offseason.