Yoenis Cespedes won’t be walking through the door at any point this summer to help the Mets, but another former All-Star slugger might have the opportunity.
In a low-risk, potential high-reward move, the team agreed to terms Friday on a minor league contract with Matt Kemp, an industry source confirmed. The 34-year-old was released by the Reds this month after posting an underwhelming .200/.210/.283 slash line with one homer and five RBIs in 20 games. He had been placed on the injured list in late April after breaking rib in a collision with the outfield fence in San Diego.
He will report to Port St. Lucie for conditioning, and it’s expected he will be assigned to Triple-A Syracuse.
Kemp’s addition comes as the Mets are thin in the outfield, following injuries that placed Michael Conforto, Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil on the IL. Conforto appears close to rejoining the team after sustaining a concussion, but the prognosis is less clear for Nimmo (neck stiffness) and McNeil (hamstring). The Mets opened their weekend series against the Tigers on Friday with a starting outfield of J.D. Davis, Carlos Gomez and Rajai Davis.
Until last weekend, the Mets were hopeful Cespedes would return from the IL at some point this season (he was rehabbing from surgery on both heels) and bolster the lineup from the right side. That was until he sustained multiple right ankle fractures in an accident on his ranch last Saturday and underwent surgery, eliminating the possibility he will return in 2019. Very much in question is whether Cespedes can return to contribute next season, in the final year of his $110 million contract.
In a second stint with the Dodgers, Kemp was productive last season (he had a slash line of .290/.338/.481 with 21 homers and 85 RBIs), but over the winter he was traded to the Reds with Yasiel Puig, Alex Wood and Kyle Farmer for Homer Bailey, Jeter Downs and Josiah Gray.
Kemp finished second in the National League MVP voting in 2011 with the Dodgers. He was later traded to the Padres and the Braves before he was traded back to the Dodgers, as he collects on an eight-year contract worth $160 million that expires after this season. If the Mets promote Kemp to the big leagues, they will only have to pay him a prorated portion of $555,000.
Kemp’s addition came on the same day the Mets finalized a minor-league deal with former All-Star right-hander Ervin Santana to provide the organization with rotation depth.
