Free-agent outfielder Yoenis Cespedes has agreed to a three-year, $75 million deal with the New York Mets, per multiple reports.
The two-time Home Run Derby champion will return to the Big Apple, where he played a large part in carrying the Mets to last year’s World Series.
In recent weeks, Cespedes had been linked to teams such as the Baltimore Orioles, Houston Astros, and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The Mets and Washington Nationals soon emerged as the front runners, and tonight, the Mets got their man.
Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports was first with the staggering numbers:
So full Cespedes deal with #Mets, per sources: Three years, $75M, full no-trade clause, opt-out after one year. Pending physical.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 23, 2016
Cespedes will make $25 million per year but has an opt-out after the first year of the contract. If he chooses to exercise that opt-out, he will earn $27.5 million, per Jon Heyman:
if cespedes opts out, he gets $27.5M for the one year
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) January 23, 2016
Cespedes is a great addition to a lineup that is in desperate need of some swagger. The only potential issue for the Mets here is that Cespedes could be a bit of a road block to budding star Michael Conforto. Judging by the fact that Cespedes turned down multiple five-year offers, it was clear he wanted to be a part of what the Mets are building. With the opt-out clause after one year, he will could potentially enter the free-agent market again next year in a very weak position-player class. With baseball’s guaranteed contracts, it is exceedingly rare to see a player pass on a five-year deal. Cespedes, however, is of the exceedingly rare brand of player.
Let the Ian Desmond bidding war begin!
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