New York Mets left fielder Yoenis Cespedes started and played left field for Single-A St. Lucie on Thursday.
Cespedes’ return will create a logjam for the team, which has utilized Michael Conforto, Curtis Granderson, Jay Bruce and Juan Lagares in the outfield while Cespedes works to recover from a hamstring injury.
Conforto, whose on-base plus slugging (1.032) ranks sixth in the majors, and Cespedes are guaranteed to play everyday.
The remaining playing time will, barring injury, be split between Jay Bruce, Juan Lagares and Curtis Granderson.
This will mark the first time in Granderson’s Mets career he will not be an everyday player – and the first time since 2005 the veteran will not have guaranteed daily plate appearances.
Granderson, 36, is in the final year of a four-year, $60 million contract he signed with the team on December 9, 2013, when he famously proclaimed true New Yorkers to be Mets fans. He has proved to be one of the greatest free agent signings in franchise history. He provided the team with no fewer than 150 games played in each of his first three seasons and averaged 2.9 wins above replacement per season (8.8 overall), according to Baseball-Reference.
The veteran’s quiet ability to adapt to the team’s needs was most notably demonstrated in 2015 when the slugger successfully transitioned to the leadoff spot. A keen eye and increased patience at the dish allowed Granderson to post a career-high on-base percentage (.364) that sparked the Mets’ offense, helped keep the team afloat during an early-summer offensive slump and led to the team’s first World Series appearance since 2000. Now, he must look to adjust yet again.
The decision seemed easy just one month ago, when Granderson batted .142/.207/.274 in his first 30 games. However, as has been customary with slow-starting outfielder, he turned on the jets and batted .274/.380/.488 in 26 games since May 9. He is seeing more pitches, driving the ball, and producing on a high level. Which begs the question: Should Granderson slot into a secondary role if the team wants to make a run?
The question is a good one for the Mets to have. With Conforto and Cespedes locks to play, the attention turns to fellow free agent-to-be Jay Bruce. Bruce’s 15 home runs lead the team, but his on-base plus slugging (.721) since May 9 trails Granderson’s by 147 points during the same sample.
Granderson’s slow start likely crippled his argument to play everyday, but the decision is not as easy as it appears. One, if not both, of Bruce and Granderson could be traded if the team falls out of contention. Bruce, at 30-years-old and with greater power potential, may be the more appealing trade candidate – and for that reason alone could receive the bulk of playing time.
Juan Lagares’ hot streak also propels him into the conversation. The 28-year-old has batted .325/.341/.525 over his last 20 games and is batting .260/.325/.384 overall. He is making excellent contact with career-high hard-hit rates (37.9 percent) and walk rates (7.5 percent). His prime defensive abilities make him an ideal late-inning replacement, but his value has recently increased.
Which outfield alignment would you like to see the Mets utilize when Cespedes returns?
Photo credit: Michael G. Baron
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