Where classic and sabermetric perspectives meet
Mets win battle with Cespedes:
But what does it get them?
On Friday, the Mets announced they had reached agreement on a restructured contract with injured slugger Yoenis Cespedes that will save the team as much as $20 million, the culmination of a fight over the bizarre ankle injury on Cespedes' ranch while he was recovering from dual-heel surgery. Newsday's Tim Healey broke it down here.
But if you're expecting the Mets to reinvest that money into the team, I wouldn't hold my breath. CEO Jeff Wilpon made very clear when they received insurance on David Wright's ultimately career-ending injury that cost of the insurance policy on Wright was “not cheap,” and despite getting money back from that policy, the money wouldn't be reinvested into the team in case Wright returned.
This is different though. Cespedes' pay is set. The $20 million is in the Mets' pocket. It should end up in the pocket of a reliever or legitimate center fielder. But, at least until billionaire Steve Cohen takes control of the team, it will likely just end up in the pockets of the Wilpons.
What it SHOULD get them is a motivated Cespedes, who now needs to hit incentives to make back the money taken from his base in the amended agreement. Plus, he's playing for a new contract. The Mets can't count on peak Cespedes, that would be foolish. But if his health lets him back on the field, the offensive boost would hopefully offset any potential negativity a presumably angry Cespedes would bring into what by all accounts is a tight locker room.