Yoenis Cespedes reached an agreement with the New York Mets this week to significantly lower his salary for 2020, and that could result in the team being able to trade the veteran outfielder.
Cespedes has reportedly taken a pay cut of roughly $20 million to lower his 2020 salary to around $10 million from $29.5 million. According to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com, the contract restructure has led to teams reaching out to the Mets about possible trades involving Cespedes.
One interesting effect of Yoenis Céspedes' contract restructuring: the Mets have had teams reach out the past week regarding his availability in trades, according to a source. Nothing close or imminent or even all that likely, but some initial conversations have taken place.
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) December 19, 2019
Cespedes signed a four-year, $110 million extension with the Mets prior to the 2017 season, and he has played in only 119 games over the past two seasons because of numerous injuries. He hit .262 with nine home runs and 29 RBI in 38 games in 2018. The 34-year-old is a quality power hitter when healthy, so teams are likely kicking the tires to see if they can get him at a reasonable price.
MLB players taking pay cuts is almost unheard of due to contracts being fully guaranteed, but Cespedes agreed to take less money because the Mets are said to have a credible grievance over the way he injured his ankles last May.
