The market has started to wilt away for free agent outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, making it more likely that he will have to take a short-term deal and take another shot at free agency in a year or two. This recent development has New York Mets fans screaming even louder for the team to bring back the player who helped take them to the World Series in 2015.
However, instead of re-signing Cespedes, the Mets should consider offering a short-term deal to Justin Upton, who now finds himself in a similar situation.
The Mets have a brief history with Cespedes, making him the pick of choice among fans, but Upton is the better option. Upton is two years younger, which means he may be more receptive to a one-year deal if he can’t find a suitable long-term offer.
Upton is also a more consistent player. Over the last four seasons, the OPS of each player are nearly identical, but Upton has been more steady and reliable. Cespedes went from .861 in 2012 to a mere .737 in 2013, improving to .751 in 2014 before jumping to .870 in 2015. Meanwhile Upton’s OPS over the last four seasons reads .785, .818, .833, .790. Upton is as consistent as they get, and New York would be getting a guaranteed productive player by signing him.
Mets fans want Cespedes because of his amazing performance late in 2015, but that is not the player he is over 162 games, much less multiple seasons. Upton has a longer and more reliable track record, and he would immediately fit into the clubhouse due to his previous relationship with Mets captain David Wright. Upton played on the same travel team as Wright while growing up in Virginia, and would undoubtedly fall in line behind Wright’s leadership.
Cespedes, on the other hand, has been known to play by his own rules in a clubhouse. That wasn’t seen during his short stint in New York, but could pop up over the course of a full season.
Of course, if the Mets were to sign Upton, they would have to open up a corner outfield spot for him, likely sending rookie sensation Michael Conforto back to the minors or to the bench. However, considering Conforto’s fast rise to the majors, more seasoning in the minors isn’t the worst thing in the world. Also, considering Curtis Granderson’s age, having three quality corner outfielders may not be such a bad thing, and there could ultimately be room for all three on the roster.
Signing Cespedes, on the other hand, would mean putting a corner outfielder in center field and relegating Juan Lagares to a bench role. Cespedes is not a center fielder, and the Mets should not sign him expecting him to be one. With Upton, the Mets know they would be getting a corner outfielder and not a someone playing a position that he’s not comfortable playing.
Of course, New York signing either player will depend on their willingness to sign a one- or two-year contract. That said, if the Mets are going to sign another outfielder this offseason, they should give strong consideration to Upton and let Cespedes go elsewhere.
