Yoenis Cespedes opts out over Mets anger, not coronavirus

ATLANTA — Revenue talks, Yoenis Cespedes walks.

Just after a disagreement that centered on agreement incentives Cespedes could not attain, according to marketplace sources, the veteran outfielder Sunday notified the Mets he was opting out on the 2020 year, sending him to free of charge company this offseason.

Cespedes was a no-present at Truist Park for the Mets’ 4- decline to the Braves, prompting common manager Brodie Van Wagenen to difficulty a statement during the game stating Cespedes was absent and the team experienced been unsuccessful in calling him.

The Mets despatched stability to Cespedes’ lodge room, and discovered he experienced packed up and departed, in accordance to Van Wagenen. The GM reported he acquired during the activity that Cespedes was opting out from the season over coronavirus considerations.

A source indicated that Cespedes did not clearly show at the ballpark Sunday following learning he would be absent from the lineup for the 2nd time in 10 games. Cespedes was upset previously in the 7 days, according to the source, that he had been benched for a sport in Boston and complained to workforce officials.

Supervisor Luis Rojas, who explained he was unaware of the reward levels in Cespedes’ deal, defined to the participant that the off day at Fenway Park was for the reason that the workforce had arrived at 3:30 a.m. after a long bus trip next a Sunday night time game.

And with Cespedes 2-for-15 with 9 strikeouts in his earlier four video games, the choice was attained to place Cespedes on the bench yet again Sunday. Players ended up informed on a Zoom phone just before buses departed for the ballpark Sunday of the starting up lineup. That was the ultimate straw for Cespedes.

Cespedes’ contract was greatly incentive-laden — primarily based mainly on at-bats — just after his deal was restructured final 12 months in the aftermath of an incident on his ranch that concerned a wild boar. Alternatively than chance owning the agreement nullified, Cespedes agreed to a diminished deal with incentives. For this 60-video game year, he was receiving a certain $6 million, prorated. His incentive amounts ended up also prorated following MLB’s shutdown for the coronavirus.

Cespedes will forgo his remaining salary by opting out. Van Wagenen, as an agent, negotiated the 4-yr deal worth $110 million Cespedes acquired from the Mets ahead of the 2017 period.

But actual physical limitations, together with different surgical procedures to clear away calcifications from both equally heels, retained Cespedes sidelined for two a long time starting in July 2018. He returned to summer season camp final month and gained a commencing career as the DH and homered to give the Mets their only run in a 1- victory about the Braves on Opening Working day at Citi Discipline.

“Yo is a excellent player that I consider most people savored watching play when he was at his best,” Van Wagenen claimed. “There was optimism for his return. I know how challenging he labored in his rehab to get back again to this place and I know this is a disappointing end to at least his four-calendar year arrangement from the Mets, but I know it was not from lack of perform ethic on his element to test and get back again.”