Mets and Yoenis Cespedes Agree to Restructure Contract for 2020 Season
By Karl Rasmussen
Yoenis Cespedes sat out all of the 2019 season due to injuries, and his availability for 2020 remains up in the air. After all, the extent of his issues is still somewhat mysterious, following a ranch accident last season.
With the outfielder due to make $29.5 million in the upcoming season, the Mets and Cespedes agreed to amend his current deal, per Andy Martino.
Sources: The Mets have reached an agreement with Yoenis Cespedes to amend his contract and 2020 salary. Still working on details.
— Andy Martino (@martinonyc) December 13, 2019
Cespedes' tenure in Queens has been marred with injury, as he's hit the IL in each of the past four seasons. He's played a total of 119 games since the start of the 2017 season.
His $29.5 million salary would have made him one of the Mets' highest earners next year, but per Jeff Passan, the restructured deal should see that figure reduced dramatically.
Yoenis Cespedes and the New York Mets have agreed on an amended contract, a source tells ESPN. While he remains with the team, the settlement significantly lower his salary from the planned $29.5 million.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 13, 2019
It's yet to be officially reported exactly how much the Mets will be saving by adjusting his 2020 salary, but early sources indicate the team will save over $10 million, which will certainly help them remain active in free agency while scraping in below the luxury tax threshold.
The amended contract of Yoenis Cespedes, which @martinonyc first reported, includes a settlement for salaries that the Mets withheld in 2019 as well as a significant reduction of his 2020 salary. Mets will save well over $10 million as part of the settlement, sources tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 13, 2019
In fact, this may be the only way Cespedes would've seen action in 2020 at all, with his hefty salary battling insurance savings.
While it may perplex some as to why Cespedes would be willing to take less than the $29.5 million he's owed, it's very likely related to his latest injury, a fractured ankle, which was suffered at his ranch.
It is related to his ranch injury. He wouldn’t be taking less unless there was a case against him related to that. https://t.co/c4ZQB9y4yA
— Andy Martino (@martinonyc) December 13, 2019
The team would certainly have a case against Cespedes, so this could be his way of settling that grievance.
This is the final year of Cespedes' four-year, $110 million deal with the Mets, and the 34-year-old will hit free agency in 2021.