New York Mets general manager Sandy Alderson spoke to the media on Thursday for the first time since undergoing surgery to address an undisclosed type of cancer. The topic of Yoenis Cespedes came up, as expected, and he brushed off the possibility of the team re-signing the slugger.
However, rumors indicate that's not entirely the case.
"According to an industry source, the Mets have left the door open a crack for Cespedes' return, but that is contingent on the outfielder perhaps accepting a one- or two-year offer," writes Mike Puma of the New York Post. "And the widespread belief is Cespedes at least will equal the four-year deal Alex Gordon recently received from Kansas City."
Cespedes is unlikely to sign a one- or two-year deal and Alderson didn't sound likely he'd be willing to commit to the outfielder long-term. He said that the trade for Cespedes made sense for two or three months, but he doesn't see it working out for five or six years.
So yes, while a reunion could be possible in the least expected scenario, it's certainly not likely in any other instance.
Earlier in the offseason rumors suggested the Mets "ruled out" a reunion with Cespedes, likely due to his contract demands - it's been said he's looking for a six-year deal in the $150 million range. That's clearly outside of what the Mets would like to spend, given their payroll hasn't exceeded $102 million since the 2011 season. That number for 2016 could reach $109 million when all is said and done, so even Cespedes on a Gordon-esque contract (four years, $72 million) probably isn't in the cards for New York.
Additionally, a number of other MLB clubs are interested in Cespedes, including the Baltimore Orioles, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Angels, Washington Nationals and possibly others - all of whom have greater spending power than the Mets at this point. In fact, $72 million over four years would be considered a bargain for some of those teams.
Cespedes could be signed soon as the market for outfielders is coming into focus. Mets fans can hang on to the thread of hope that remains, but nobody should expect Cespedes to return to New York.