The Mets don't know exactly when outfielder Yoenis Cespedes will return from double heel surgery, and Omar Minaya, special assistant to the GM, echoed that sentiment.
"Right now, there's not a specific timetable to date," Minaya said on MLB Network Radio on Wednesday. "But he had those two operations. Usually we don't like getting into specific timetables. We just want to get him back, and if he comes back, anything -- if he gives us anything this year, that is gravy. We're happy for that."
New Mets GM Brodie Van Wagenen said last month he views Cespedes, who underwent surgery to remove bone calcification from his right heel on Aug. 2 and his left heel on Oct. 26, as "the ultimate trade deadline piece," suggesting the 33-year-old slugger could return at some point in the second half.
But Cespedes, who was limited to just 38 games last season and 81 games in 2017, said in September he did not know how many games he would play in 2019.
"I think it's unpredictable given what will happen and I can't say I will play X, Y, Z amount of games," Cespedes said between heel surgeries.
The Mets, according to Newsday's David Lennon, should be able to recoup some of the $29 million Cespedes is owed for the 2019 season. Cespedes, who signed a four-year, $110 million contract with New York in November 2016, has two years and $58.5 million remaining on his deal.
Of course, he played just one game after May 13 last year before needing to be shut down for the season. He recorded a .262/.325/.496 batting line with nine home runs and 29 RBIs last season.
Without Cespedes, the Mets' outfield currently consists of Michael Conforto, Juan Lagares and Brandon Nimmo. They signed outfielders Gregor Blanco and Rajai Davis to respective minor-league deals in December, and have also been linked to Tigers outfielder Nick Castellanos and free agent A.J. Pollock.