3 Mets Who Should Sit Out if Rob Manfred Institutes 50-Game Season

Another dagger was thrust into the hearts of baseball fans this week when it was reported that the MLB players' union didn't even consider approving the owners' latest proposal. Before you know it, commissioner Rob Manfred could swoop in and instill his own plan so that the 2020 season is realized.

Manfred's "nuclear option" 50-game season almost seems inevitable. And it's not appealing that it accounts for a shade over 30% of a regular 162-game campaign. Such a reality could prompt some players to not even bother participating this year.

The New York Mets have a slew of veterans who will likely ponder sitting out, and we've gone ahead to highlight three who should do just that.

3. Robinson Cano

New York Mets infielder Robinson Cano in Spring Training earlier this year. / Rich Schultz/Getty Images

Robinson Cano is already robbing the Mets blind, so he might as well just forgo playing in 2020 to tack on a season at the back end of the ridiculous 10-year, $240 million contract he signed with the Seattle Mariners. The 37-year-old veteran is presently under contract through 2023, so there's really no chance of him inking anything more than a one-year contract when his current deal expires anyway.

2. Michael Wacha

New York Mets right-hander Michael Wacha / Mark Cunningham/Getty Images

After a forgettable season with the St. Louis Cardinals last year, Michael Wacha signed one-year, $3 million contract with the Mets late in the offseason. At 28 years old, there's still plenty of time for for the former NLCS MVP to bank a solid deal as a pro. However, he'll need more than 50 games to prove to teams that he's capable of returning to the All-Star form he showcased earlier in his career. Better still, Wacha could become a regular starter on New York's next year rotation if Marcus Stroman chooses to play and then enter free agency after this season. The Texas A&M product shouldn't think twice about sitting out in 2020.

1. Dellin Betances

New York Mets reliever Dellin Betances / Rich Schultz/Getty Images

An untimely Achilles injury limited Dellin Betances, who was in a contract year, to just one appearance for the New York Yankees in 2019. That saw him land a one-year, $10.5 million prove-it deal with the Mets this offseason. Though most analysts viewed that contract as a steal for the Amazins, there's no way to know if the four-time All-Star will be the same pitcher. A 50-game sample simply wouldn't be enough for Betances to prove he's fully recovered from the injury and back to his usual effective ways. Sitting out and returning to Queens in 2021 for a full 162-game slate is definitely the best move for his career.