Are the Mets sending Yoenis Cespedes a message with the Jay Bruce trade?

It’s not an exaggeration to say that the New York Mets are having a few problems lately. In addition to their injured pitchers, their offense has been seriously lacking. They’re currently ranked dead last out of all 30 teams in batting average at .237. They desperately need an offensive boost, and so they decided to do something about it. Fortunately, it’s trade season, so they traded second baseman Dilson Herrera and pitcher Max Wotell to the Cincinnati Reds for outfielder Jay Bruce.

Bruce doesn’t really represent much of an offensive upgrade for the Mets, which is why this trade is a little puzzling. He has a lifetime average of .249, he’s hitting .265 in 2016 (so he’s not exactly setting the world on fire), and his average for 2014-2015 is a paltry .222. He does hit some homers, though, with 25 in 2016, and with the exception of 2014 he’s hit at least 21 every year he’s been in the majors.

What this trade really seems to be about is outfield insurance for 2017. And there’s nothing wrong with wanting a little insurance. The Mets are obviously fearful that Yoenis Cespedes is going to opt out of his contract at the end of the 2016 season, and they want to make sure they have someone who is ready to go.

But by signing Bruce, who is simply not the player that Cespedes is, they’re essentially telling Cespedes that they think he’s going to opt out of his contract. Yes, they’re trying to get some outfield insurance by trading for Bruce, but they’re also showing Cespedes they don’t need him and they don’t care if he opts out or not. And nothing makes a player feel more wanted than his bosses showing that they don’t care.

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And what they don’t care about is a lot. Cespedes has blossomed in New York, hitting .290 since he was traded to the Mets. Compared to Bruce, well, there really is no comparison.

But this seems like a shortsighted and expensive way to get insurance for 2017, because that’s really the only thing they’re getting. Bruce has a $13 million club option for 2017, with a $1 million buyout. After that, he’s a free agent. And they’re all but telling Cespedes (and his .290 average and 39 homers) to take a hike, abandoning any chance he might stick around for the last two years of his contract.

So let’s imagine a world where the Mets didn’t trade for Jay Bruce. What’s the worst case scenario? Cespedes opts out of his contract at the end of 2016, and they have to hit the free agent market to fill the spot. Scary? Yes. Worst thing ever? No. Sure, they’ll have to spend money on signing a new player, but without Cespedes sucking up nearly $24 million of the payroll it wouldn’t be such a stretch for the perennially cash-strapped Mets.

Trading for Jay Bruce does nothing but limit the Mets’ options, and pretty much ensures that Cespedes will find a new home at the end of 2016. But this is the path the Mets have chosen, and all we — and they — can do is see where it takes them.

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Liz Roscher is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email her at lizroscher@yahoo.com or follow her on twitter! Follow @lizroscher