Mets Outfielder Cespedes Causes Panic; Has Opted Out of 2020 MLB Season

New York Mets outfielder and DH Yoenis Cespedes caused a panic when he failed to show up at Atlanta's Sun Trust Field for today's game against the Atlanta Braves. By the time the game began, team officials had not been successful in contacting him.

It has now been learned that Cespedes has opted out of playing for the remainder of the 2020 MLB season, but for reasons known only to himself did not inform the Mets of his decision. This has become the latest chapter in the long, difficult relationship between the Cuban born outfielder and the Mets.

Cespedes, 34, began his big league career with the Oakland A's in 2012 finishing runner up in AL Rookie of the Year balloting to Mike Trout. In 2014, he earned an AL All-Star Team selection with the A's, but was traded only weeks later to the Boston Red Sox for pitcher Jon Lester and outfielder Jonny Gomes. Following the 2014 season, the Red Sox traded Cespedes to the Detroit Tigers in an exchange for pitcher Rick Porcello - now a Mets teammate.

After only a half season in Detroit, Cespedes was traded to the Mets for pitchers Michael Fulmer and Luis Cessa. Cespedes was the missing piece in the Mets' lineup blasting 17 HR and 44 RBI in only 57 games played. If not for Cespedes, the Mets would not have won their first NL pennant in 15 years.

Prior to the 2016 season, Cespedes signed a 3-year, $75 million contract with the Mets. In 2016, Cespedes hit .280 with 31 HR and 86 RBI finishing earning his second career All-Star Game selection and finishing 8th in NL MVP balloting as the Mets made the post-season yet again.

Cespedes would opt out of his contract, but re-signed with the Mets for a 4-year deal worth $110 million. Unfortunately, this has turned out to be one of the worst contracts in baseball as Cespedes has been plagued with hamstring, heel and ankle injuries causing him to miss 205 games between 2017 and 2018 while not playing at all in 2019.

In eight games with the Mets this season, Cespedes went 5 for 31 for a batting average of .161 with 2 HR and 4 RBIs. In parts of 8 MLB seasons, Cespedes has played in 834 games, collected 870 hits for a lifetime batting average of .273 with 165 HR and 528 RBIs.

Cespedes is due to be a free agent at the end of the season. While Cespedes has every right to opt out the manner in which he did so suggests that he has probably played his last game in a Mets uniform.