While the New York Mets’ young and live-armed pitching staff got all the attention en route to a NLCS win and World Series appearance, the bats also came along for the ride. Outfielder Yoenis Cespedes made a major impact and the Mets were hopeful of keeping him around beyond last season.
But how long the Mets wanted to keep Cespedes around appears to be the sticking point. CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman reports that Cespedes’ days with the Mets are officially over after the team only offered a short-term deal to the fourth-year major leaguer.
“As for Cespedes, the Mets at some point this winter suggested a short term deal of perhaps “two or three” years for the star outfielder, according to sources, and word is they never even named a price. That’s probably just as well on the price since Cespedes would be expected to find a deal for at least five or six years on the market.”
This coming after Cespedes finished the season batting .291, with 35 home runs, 105 RBI and a slugging percentage of .542 between the Mets and Detroit Tigers.
With those numbers and plenty of teams looking for right-handed bats in the outfield, Cespedes is likely to command some major interest on the free agent market, and it appears that is exactly where things are headed. But which teams will be in the market is the multi-million dollar question this offseason.
MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo reported back in September that Cespedes wants a six-year deal. But between his age (30 years old), relative inexperience at the MLB level and only one truly standout season, Cespedes’ contract demands have apparently scared off several clubs.
There could be one home on the East Coast for him, with the Baltimore Orioles looking to up their offensive production in hopes of keeping pace in the ultra-competitive AL East division. Cespedes’ combination of power and hitting for average could be attractive to a team facing life without the likes of Chris Davis, Matt Wieters, and Steve Pearce.
Pearce has been rumored as a potential replacement for Cespedes with the Mets, while Davis balked at a franchise-record $154 million deal from the Orioles earlier this offseason. Baltimore pulled that offer to Davis after he said no.
Teams like the Yankees, Angels and Marlins could also get in on the Cespedes free agency sweepstakes as well. Miami would be especially intriguing in Miami, as Cespedes is Cuban and the proximity to his home along with the Marlins’ appetite for crazy contracts makes them an potentially interesting landing spot.
Clearly there are options for Cespedes, but will any of them be of the variety he is hoping for? That is the part which remains to be seen in a market still flush with corner outfielders and spring training approximately two months away.
