[Evil Vito]

Originally Posted by Damian Rey Just because they have money does not mean they should spend it for the fuck of it.

That's the thing though. There isn't any evidence to suggest there even is still money available. Alderson right out of the gate said he hoped payroll would be slightly above what it was at Opening Day last year. And it is. At $106 million. After years of telling fans payroll will increase when attendance goes up, they still will churn out one of the lowest payrolls in all of baseball.

I didn't understand the complaints about the payroll through much of the offseason because most of the free agents weren't a fit or went for way longer deals than I thought they were worth. Cespedes, Gordon, Upton. All corner outfielders asking for a shitload. Span wanting a multi-year deal despite missing almost all of last year with a balky hip. Relievers reigning in 3-4 year deals. Too much. It was clear that the Mets were mostly looking to guys for 1-year deals, and I was fine with that approach given who was available.

But now Cespedes might be available for a year and they'll STILL balk? Christ. Yes he'd be putting a square peg into a round hole defensively, but it's not a long-term commitment AND he'd still play corner OF against lefties (Grandy sucks against LHP and Conforto will at least need the occasional breather). Cespedes makes the lineup considerably better for one season and then you can let him cash in and turn to a Lagares/Nimmo platoon for 2017.

Sandy came out and said they couldn't see them bringing back Yo for more than one year. Well now they have their chance. If he goes to another team for multiple years, good for him. But if he signs for 1 year for any team other than the Mets, the Wilpons should be fucking embarrassed.