Why Yoenis Cespedes will win the NL MVP
The 2017 Mets have a chance to do something no other teams in franchise history have done, and that is advance to the postseason for the third straight year. While the Mets ultimate goal is to win the World Series and not just advance in to October again, if the Mets want to win they will need their $110 million dollar man Yoenis Cespedes to help carry the offense. Who can forget what Cespedes did in 2015, when he carried the offense through August and September, batting .287 with 17 homers and 44 runs batted in. Cespedes put up MVP caliber numbers through those final 57 games, and enter the MVP conversation but still came up far short at 13th in voting. Last year, playing essentially on a one year contract Cespedes once again put up big numbers, hitting .281 with 31 home runs and 86 runs batted in, while also battling through injuries keeping him off of his full potential. With a full healthy season, and with some protection and help in the lineup, Cespedes is primed to make a run for the MVP and here are a few specific reasons why.
First and foremost, Cespedes will not play this season worrying about his contract. In 2015 Cespedes was in the last year of his contract, and while his performance was still extraordinary he had to be thinking that he was playing for a new contract. With every home run his value would increase and every strikeout and blunder his value would drop. Also Cespedes didn’t know where he would end up following that 2015 season as he wanted to test free agency. The same can be said about Cespedes last season. Although the Mets and Yoenis had agreed on a 3 year $75 million deal before the 2016 season, it had a first year opt-out clause that allowed Cespedes to test free agency again amid a weaker outfielder class than the year before. So all of 2016 was basically a big try out for Cespedes, who was once again playing for a contract. But this year, for the first time in since 2014 Cespedes won’t be in the final year of a contract. That being said Cespedes is now a proven and matured big league all star, who is far more accustomed to the major leagues and America than he was in 2014, just his third season outside of Cuba. So Yoenis Cespedes should be far more comfortable with his personal life this season than he has been in the previous years. He has a permanent home in Manhattan and owns his own ranch just minutes away from Port St. Lucie Florida, home of the Mets spring training facilities, where he spends his winters. Being now committed to New York for four years, Cespedes should be able to live comfortably without having to worry about moving. Cespedes has also voiced his enjoyment of living in New York City many times, speaking of it's spotlight, Mets fans, and culture. Off the field, Yoenis Cespedes has everything in check and should be able to focus solely on his game.
On the field, Cespedes is now in a much better position to succeed. He will be the team's starting left fielder, a position more natural to him in his big league career. Along with not having to worry about playing out of position, Cespedes won’t be covering as much ground which should help him avoid any more quad injuries that plagued him last season and ultimately lead to his return to left field. In terms of offense, Cespedes looks locked in this spring, as he’s batting 10-19 with three homers (including a 450+ foot bomb over the twenty foot tall batter's eye in center field at First Tradition Field). I know it's only spring, but Cespedes looks ready to go for this upcoming season. By signing earlier this offseason, Cespedes was able to get to Florida early and begin training for the season. Yoenis is apparently in the best shape of his life, stronger than ever, and has fully healed his right quad, which was apparently a lot worse than was ever made aware to the public. With the additions of Jose Reyes, a guy who gets on base, and Jay Bruce, a left handed power bat that other teams will need to be weary of, Cespedes should have plenty of opportunities to drive runs in and maybe even some protection in the lineup.
Perhaps the best reason, and the scariest for other teams is that Yoenis himself says he wants two things: a World Series championship and a MVP trophy. Knowing that he is locked in long term with the Mets, Cespedes is now more comfortable and ready to perform than ever. The Mets have committed long term to him, and he has committed back to them and want to prove everyone in the franchise that he is worth $110 million. Having now secured a long term deal and getting his money, Cespedes is more driven to perform for his team and city than ever before, when he was really playing for his future.
Going into 2017 the Mets have better chances of winning it all than they have had in awhile. And while many will say the Mets final result this year will depend on the rotation, I here to tell you that the Mets outcome this year will be a result of Yoenis Cespedes. We’ve all seen what he can do when he’s hot, as he single handedly carried the Mets to a National League East title in 2015. If Cespedes can play a full year like that for the Mets the sky's the limit for this team. No longer needing to worry about a contract or where he will be playing next season, with a healthy and strong body, and the desire to win a MVP award Cespedes is primed to perform in 2017. So don't be surprised this fall when Yoenis Cespedes becomes the first ever Met to win the MVP award.