The Mets may have no problem with allowing Yoenis Cespedes to leave and sign a long-term deal elsewhere. But almost certainly they have to cringe at the thought of him signing with the Nationals.
For one thing, Cespedes could be the same difference-maker next year in a race between the two NL East rivals as he was last season — only this time he could put the Nationals, not the Mets, over the top.
For another, with fans outraged by the Mets' unwillingness to bring back Cespedes on anything beyond a three-year contract, his landing in the same division would mean 19 head-to-head meetings a season and perhaps a lot more anger from the ticket-buying public.