Mets, Already 4 Games Back Through 10, Lose Cespedes and Hope

New York Mets outfielder Yeonis Cespedes decided he was opting out yesterday, while telling absolutely no one other than his agent. 

The move was completely unprofessional, to say the least. Cespedes quit a job that is essentially entirely responsible for his $60 million net worth and did it without as much as a text to his employer to prepare for the absence. Cespedes managed to head to the mall while Mets staffers frantically searched his hotel room. 

The New York Mets are currently in last place in the NL East, so how does the future look for New York going forward?

Cespedes, even while hitting a game winning homer against the Braves last Friday, the outfielder still managed -.01 WAR(wins above replacement) for the short season. Those unfamiliar with WAR, it means the average outfielder in the league is statistically contributing more to the roster than Cespedes. Moreover, the Mets are now 4 games back to the Atlanta Braves despite a struggling Ronald Acuna Jr. and Ozzie Albies, who are hitting a combined .195. Not good.

The Metropolitans have no reason to believe this team has anything to answer for the better teams in the division. Absorbing the loss of Cespedes would be even easier if general management found a way to sign talent that didn’t happen to be on the 18th hole of their illustrious careers. 

In other words, the New York Mets couldn’t compete for the division with one of their best players on the roster, so what saves this team?

The new playoff format for 16 teams into the postseason, effectively letting the top two spots in every division into October baseball. This is the ONLY logical reason the Mets or their fans should see any hope for a shoddy bullpen with more holes than a Vegas orgy. 

Mediocre baseball teams were finally given grace during this 60 game season, so Mets fans shouldn’t give up hope, even if Cespedes did.