Mets GM Brodie Van Wagenen discussed his roster after he had introduced Carlos Beltran as the franchise's 22nd manager on Monday at Citi Field, including Yoenis Cespedes.
Cespedes didn't play all of last season after suffering multiple ankle fractures on his ranch in Port St. Lucie, Fla. And as he continues to recover from surgery to repair that injury, Van Wagenen told reporters that it's "too early to tell" if he will return for the 2020 MLB season.
"I don't have enough information to predict when he's going to be back," Van Wagenen said.
Cespedes hasn't played since July 20, 2018, as the Mets shut him down to treat the calcification in his left heel.
The Mets are in the final year of Cespedes' contract, in which they owe him $29.5 million for the 2020 season. However, they would get insurance money in return for this year if he doesn't play. That was the case this past season.
The 34-year-old was an All-Star in his first full season with the Mets in 2016. But he only played in 81 games in 2017 and 32 games in 2018, as he fought to remain healthy.
Luckily, the Mets do have some outfield options to make up for a Cespedes-less roster in 2020. J.D. Davis, for instances, was a big signing by Van Wagenen and he proved he can play a decent left field. There is also Brandon Nimmo, Michael Conforto and Jeff McNeil on the roster, though Van Wagenen noted on Monday that McNeil will see a lot of third base with Todd Frazier gone next season.