The New York Mets were one of the most talked about teams as the MLB's non-waiver deadline approached back on July 31. New York was in prime position to make a postseason run, but they needed a capable middle-of-the-order bat to spark their offense and support their pitching staff.
They ended up acquiring Yoenis Cespedes from the Detroit Tigers just minutes before 4 p.m. ET on July 31, but it wasn't known how the team arrived at the consensus to go after the slugger until today.
It initially appeared as if the Mets were in disarray back in late July. Their trade for Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Carlos Gomez fall through in the late stages of the deal and then they were unable to pry outfielder Justin Upton away from the San Diego Padres or outfielder Jay Bruce from the Cincinnati Reds.
General manager Sandy Alderson obviously saw the upside in acquiring Gomez and Bruce, considering they were under contract through 2016. As for Upton, he's set to his free agency after the season, but Alderson probably figured there was a chance to acquire him at a decent price because the Padres were struggling and may have preferred an established prospect(s) in exchange for Upton rather than a compensation draft pick after the season.
Then there was Cespedes, who the Tigers made available late in the deadline frenzy. All of the top Mets' executives were debating what to do late in the afternoon on July 31.
"One last time, they discussed whether to make a last-ditch trade for Cespedes," writes Tim Rohan of the New York Times. "Jeff Wilpon, the Mets' chief operating officer, was in the room, along with Sandy Alderson, the general manager, and two of his assistants - John Ricco and Paul DePodesta. Another assistant, J.P. Ricciardi, called in remotely, and members of the analytics team and baseball operations staff popped in and out.
"It was Cespedes or nothing, and several Mets executives had doubts about acquiring him for various reasons, including the possibility that the team would have his services for only two months. His contract is set to expire at the end of the season ...
"With the clock about to run out on the trading deadline, a decision had to be made. So Alderson went around the conference room, taking a vote, to hear everyone's final thoughts. There was still some dissension on making the trade. But Alderson had the final call ...
"So he told his subordinates he would make the deal - Cespedes for Fulmer and one other Mets prospect - and then left the conference room to call the Tigers privately and finalize the terms. But on his way out of the room, he paused to confer with Wilpon, who had been listening to the debate.
"Alderson asked him, just to be sure: Was he comfortable making the deal?
"'Go for it,' Wilpon told him."
So while the Wilpons can be credited with making a risky decision that's paying its dividends, their next obstacle will be attempting to re-sign Cespedes, who is expected to garner interest throughout the MLB after batting .309/.356/.691 with 36 runs scored, 17 home runs and 42 RBIs in 41 games with the Mets.
