Yoenis Cespedes retained more self-confidence than salary for next year.

Speaking recently on MLB Network Radio, Eduardo Perez revealed that Cespedes had predicted in a conversation that he would hit 40 homers in 2020 and perhaps even match his uniform number — 52.

Cespedes had zero homers last year in no games played. So he already is leading the league in chutzpah — and maybe delusion too. Nevertheless, the Mets have not given up that there is production possible for Cespedes. They could have fought to pay none of the $29.5 million he was owed in 2020.

That they didn’t reflects either: 1. They did not want to risk losing a grievance and having to pay the full freight and/or 2. At a reduced rate, the Mets believe Cespedes is still an asset to keep or trade.

Cespedes could make as little as $6 million, more likely $11 million and as much as $20 million depending on his health and whether he is productive enough to warrant regular at-bats. What does history say about the return of veteran sluggers after missing a full season?

Many have come back to strong production. It was quite familiar for players to lose time to military service earlier last century. Ted Williams, for example, missed 1943-45 during World War II and returned to win the AL MVP in 1946.

Alex Rodriguez was suspended for the 2014 season and hit 33 homers in 2015. Andres Galarraga missed the 1999 season after being diagnosed with lymphoma in his lower back and returned in 2000 to hit 28 homers. Both Eric Davis and Ryne Sandberg retired for the 1995 season and returned in 1996 to hit 26 and 25 homers, respectively.

The three players, though, who hit the most homers after missing a whole season because of an injury that necessitated surgery offer some similarities to Cespedes, though as opposed to Moises Alou. Ron Gant and Mo Vaughn, Cespedes (in what will be his age-34 season) will be trying to revive from not just missing all of last year, but playing just 119 games between 2017-18 (albeit with an .869 OPS):

1. Alou (30 homers, 2000, age-33 season)

Like Cespedes, Alou was a left fielder in the midst of a huge contract (for the time) trying to return from a leg injury.

Alou was signed to a five-year, $25 million contract by the Marlins after the 1996 season and was the team’s best hitter in the World Series when the franchise won its first title in 1997.

He was the first big piece to go immediately after in a fire sale that ultimately would lead Mike Piazza from the Dodgers to the Marlins to the Mets. In 1998, Alou was third in the NL MVP behind tainted homer kings Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire. That offseason, though, Alou tore his left ACL falling off a treadmill in the Dominican and did not play in 1999.

In 2000, Alou would have won the NL Comeback Player of the Year award if not for Galaragga’s inspiring return. Alou hit .355 with a 1.039 OPS. Alou, in fact, would play in nine seasons after missing 1999 and hit .310 with a .900 OPS.

2. Gant (29 homers, 1995, age-30 season)

Gant also was a left fielder who — like Cespedes — suffered a devastating leg injury that put his contract in peril.

Gant finished fifth in the 1993 ML MVP vote, received the richest one-year contract ($5.5 million) ever for 1994 and then just before spring training broke the tibia and fibula in his right leg in a dirt bike accident. Deciding he would not be available for the 1994 season, the Braves released Gant and had to pay him roughly $905,000. There were threats of a grievance to claim the whole amount of the contract that never came.

The Reds signed Gant in June, 1994, but with the season not far away from being canceled because of a strike, Gant never played that year. But he did play for the NL Central champ Reds in 1995, producing a .940 OPS, making the NL All-Star team and finishing 11th in the MVP vote.

3. Vaughn (26 homers, 2002, age-34 season)

Like Cespedes, he restructured his contract to be a Met and played his return season at 34.

Following the 1998 season, Vaughn signed a six-year, $90 million pact with the Angels and their manager, Terry Collins, who would be replaced late that year by interim Joe Maddon, now the Angels’ manager again. In his first inning of his first Angels game, Vaughn slipped on the dugout steps chasing a pop-up. He played 139 games that year and 162 the following, but was hampered by the ankle.

Then prior to the 2001 campaign, Vaughn tore his left biceps. Though Vaughn did not play that year, the Mets traded for him after the season and defrayed part of the three years at $50 million still owed by having the Angels accept Kevin Appier in return plus getting Vaughn to defer part of the remaining contract in exchange for alterations in his no-trade provision.

The Angels won their lone World Series in Vaughn’s first season away. The Mets had championship aspirations after taking on Vaughn, Roberto Alomar, Jeromy Burnitz and signing Roger Cedeno to a big contract. Vaughn got off to a poor start with the Mets in 2002, never really got out of the doghouse with the fan base and was part of a general underperformance that doomed Bobby Valentine’s final year as manager. He lasted just 27 games in 2003 and was done because of persistent knee problems.