10:57pm: The Tigers are among the teams still at least considering Cespedes, Jon Heyman reports (all Twitter links). While GM Al Avila said during the Winter Meetings that his team was “out” on Cespedes, that was six weeks ago and things could have changed with the outfielder still on the market in mid-January. Indeed, later reports suggested that Detroit was still monitoring Cespedes if his price dropped. Heyman notes that the Tigers may be thinking about adding a big bat since they seriously thought about signing Davis; some front office members even wanted to make the move, though “future luxury-tax concerns” scuttled the signing.
12:36pm: With plenty of interest in and activity on Cespedes, there’s “no chance” he will be forced to take a “very short deal,” Jon Heyman tweets.
10:58am: The market for free agent outfielder Yoenis Cespedes is “intensifying,” according to ESPN.com’s Jim Bowden (Twitter link). It seems possible that a deal could come together within “the next few days,” he adds.
With yesterday’s reported agreement between Chris Davis and the Orioles, it seems plausible to expect greater clarity in Cespedes’s own market. Baltimore had emerged as one of the most widely-reported suitors for the Cuban veteran, but the addition of Davis likely takes them out of the market for further major power bats.
Cespedes is said to be seeking something nearing or even exceeding the overall value that Davis received from the O’s. But it remains unclear as yet where that level of cash will come from. Baltimore was reportedly interested at around $90MM over five years.
While we have only heard about clear interest from a few teams to date, Bowden says that as many as ten organizations are still in “active contact” with Cespedes’s reps. While at least some are surely offering a soft landing rather than pursuing a bidding war, that’s still encouraging at this stage of the winter.
From public reports to date, the Mets and White Sox are apparently not willing to go past three years. The Braves reportedly have interest, too, but it’s hard to imagine that Atlanta would go anywhere near the Davis contract. Other teams that make good hypothetical fits, such as the Tigers and Angels, have not been tied strongly to Cespedes.
In considering the possibilities, though, it’s worth noting that virtually all of the league’s teams could stand to improve by adding Cespedes. While that’s hardly the end of the analysis, there should be ample motivation to explore the possibilities. Young players can be held in the upper minors; trades can be made; and position changes can be implemented. It’s true, too, that there are some trade candidates still out there that effect things as well, but there’s no getting around the fact that Cespedes had a monster season last year, is a great athlete with all-around abilities, and isn’t even all that old.
Tigers. This has an Illich feel about it that’s hard to miss. And they loved him while he was there.
But where would Mayberry Jr. play then?
Mayberry Jr. has a minor league deal. He won’t be a starter on the big league team
#sarcasm
He would be a bench player where he belongs .
Maybe at AAA but barely deserves a bench role there.
Haha that’s a good one
Mayberry is barely even a bench player
HAAAAAAAA!
I see what you did there:D
AAA
I agree. I also think Cespedes liked playing in Detroit.
He liked playing everywhere, because he truly respects the game. He was a little sour at Oakland for trading him, but he later said it was in the heat of the moment and he understands that’s how the game is.
You know that he’s universally regarded as a major prima donna who requires care and feeding every day, right? I mean, universally.
Except by those who matter in MLB.
Anyone who thinks he’s a prima donna is a racist/troll who thinks all Cubans are the same and like Puig. Thinking all players from a different country are the same is racist.
*different = not-American country
If he was willing to sign a 3 year contract or a 2 year deal great pick for the braves and doesn’t cost a draft pick.
Why would he play for a team who isn’t going to win this year?
Money and maybe he is not as cynical about their chances as you. Pro athletes have huge egos. Maybe he believes he might be their missing piece. I don’t believe that,but I don’t have the ego of a pro athlete either.
Right, but how about the other side: why would the Braves even waste their money to have a guy who’s going to help them win 4 more games, aren’t they trying to get a top 5 pick? 2018 is coming, a team who’s out of it now should be aiming to be good by then so they can add superstars and take it to the next level. Braves would be in that boat.
Money. This line is vastly overused. To hear some people talk about it, no free agent would ever sign with a below-500 team. Of course, it happens all the time.
I agree with that, but the trend now is the Astros model so bringing in guys who would definitely be a 3+ WAR player would mean they would win 3 more games at least, and fall down the draft ladder. Makes no sense on the sub .500 team unless they truly felt they were better than their record and could contend in 2016. The A’s, White Sox, Tigers, Indians, Padres, Diamondbacks, Giants, Nats and Marlins all fall in this category, the Braves, Phillies, Brewers and Reds do not.
^ some of those werent sub-.500 but you get my point.
He would take a 2 year deal from the Mets before he’d take a 3 yr from the Braves
Hey, hey no need for the truth here…You will burst our tiny bubbles lol
Why would the Braves sign him when they have something that doesn’t even remotely resemble a professional baseball team. Why trade good young players then sign a 30 year old to a massive contract that they would never be able to trade?
The Tigers will swoop in
Seriously White Sox, offer 5/$110M or something with opt-outs at 2 and 3 years. Then Cespedes gets paid while also the Sox can get that “three year” deal they want. Also, if the White Sox fall flat on their face (also likely considering the manager and front office) and don’t compete; Cespedes can opt-out and the Sox can start potentially tearing down their core. Sale and Quintana would have MONSTER value the next couple years and Abreu as well. Like they say in Vegas; “Go big or go home”
P.S. if sacrificing a draft pick, then sign Upton. Don’t waste the Samardzija comp on Desmond or Fowler or some crap. Especially since those guys aren’t even better than what the Sox already have.
I completely agree
Agreed! Fowler is not really need upgrade. He isn’t going to make the team a scary threat.
Just give Avi another shot. If Beckham was given what felt like a decade Avi should get another year if they don’t get one of the big OF’s available
Avi looks like he is still hurt (he always looks like he is in pain -whether jogging, running, swinging, throwing, etc) . Even before then Mr ‘Mini Cabrera’ barely had enough power to make a dent in a wall. I have no faith in Avi. Never seen a guy that strong looking hit so weakly (well other than Dunn). IMO He has this spring to make an impression. If he cannot pound at least 8 homers in the spring he should go to the minors and sit there until he can find his bat, or they trade him.
The White Sox should have gotten Iglesias from the Red Sox, and not Avi from the Tigers. Detroit fleeced Hahn on that one.
How did Hahn get fleeced? Peavy was a bad pitcher the majority of the time he was with the Sox (and Boston for that matter). Not to mention the fact that he was hurt all the time except for one year. They turned that garbage into a top prospect at the time. Sure, Garcia hasn’t lived up to the hype, but they gave up pretty much nothing to get him.
Iglesias, in his “all star” year, had a whopping 1.5 WAR. He’s really not that good… Ya, that’s better than Avi has been, but it’s nothing to write home about.
Oh yah, the White Sox also stole Montas in that deal. I’d say that based on that alone, the White Sox came out ahead in that trade.
Well last I checked Peavy was on a WS winning team, so he could not have been that bad. As for Montas, if he was that good he would still be a Sox. Sure he was moved for Frazier, but who is to say another young arm in the Sox system would not have been moved for Frazier?
All Montas did was show he had a fastball. Time will tell if he is anything good. I said back then that Avi was a bad idea, especially how much the Tigers were trumpeting how ‘good’ of a deal the Sox got. Iglesias would have solved a few problems for the Sox by far. Also WaR can be angled to show anything IMO. He would have been better than what the Sox had with Alexei being god awful last season and could like have been moved once Anderson is with the big club. Can the same thing be said for Garcia in terms of getting anything for him if they trade him?
I get that Avi could find his power and start being the guy they though they were getting but it seems unlikely. This Spring should tell more.
Filler may not be scary but he gets on base. Major help with runners on base.
Desmond isn’t better than Saladino? Fowler isn’t better than Avi?
Puh-leeze. I hope your FO isn’t on the same drugs, cuz I like the White Sox and want them to win.
I agree!
Not a Sox fan but I do think Cespedes is the type of player that puts that team over the top. A 345 of Abreu, Frazier, and Cespedes with a 1-2 of Sale Quintana looks better than or at least comparable to the best teams in the league. Like u said too they are all so valuable that if it didn’t work they could blow it up and get major prospects in return almost starting a Houston esque rebuild immediately. It almost seems like a no brainer from the Sox standpoint though admittedly I don’t know their payroll restrictions or limitations. All I know is if they add Cespedes they are my favorite out of the AL.
A 1,2,3,4,5 of Eaton, Melky, Abreu, Frazier, and Cespedes then we got Sale,Quintana,Rodon, and Johnson .
Get it done FO
It does sound good, but I am also okay with them getting Fowler and Desmond (maybe on a one year deal) instead of Cespedes. Sox always say they are “retooling” and not “rebuilding”. So if that is so there can be no way you go into the season starting Saldino at SS.
Where were you last season because as I recall while Avi was stinking it up to the tune of a .257/.309/.365 with 13hr and 59rbi Fowler was slashing .250/.346/.411 with 17 he and 46 rbis all while batting lead off and scoring 102 runs.
He would be a clear upgrade both offensively and defensively over acid ail Garcia, and would help sure up the front end of the lineup by giving the team a high Obp guy to put in front of abreu. Saw the effect a good Obp guy can have on bri totals last year with Bryant and Rizzo coming in with 99, and 101 respectively. So if you truly think that the white sox would not be better off with Fowler in the corner of spot over Garcia you are being foolish.
“Don’t waste the Samardzija comp on Desmond or Fowler or some crap.”
Really? Ian Desmond and Dexter Fowler are both proven MLB veterans. Both will be just 30 come opening day. To suggest that neither is worthy of the 27th pick in the June amateur draft is nonsense, especially considering the White Sox are in a window of opportunity to win now through at least 2019 with their “team-friendly” contracts in place to core assets like Chris Sale, Jose Abreu, Jose Quintana and Adam Eaton, to say nothing of the commitments in place to veterans David Robertson, Melky Cabrera, Todd Frazier and Brett Lawrie who are in or approaching their prime years in MLB.
Amen Cespedes or bust
Great post.
Angels come on swoop in and snag him, Arte needs to go over the luxury tax,
angelsfan…….it’s funny how fans from each team present their reasoning behind “Why We Should Sign Him”….regardless of which FA it is. I enjoy the stories, the banter, and the sharing of dreams………but we all have to know that “it makes no never mind” what we say here….those owners will always have the last word. Fact is, they do exhibit trends and tendencies that we all recognize…..but they sometimes surprise us (and then we expect to be surprised over and over again….lol). Most any team would benefit from signing Cespedes (I could even make a case for the Miami Marlins to do so, and with solid facts & figures to back it up…..LOL…). I believe that there is SO MUCH going on behind the scenes here, that we really have NO IDEA (and neither do most of the writers) of what’s REALLY going to happen. I thought for SURE that the Cards were going to sign Heyward, especially when I had information “from inside the organization” (I know a few Cardinal players)……and i believe that they thought they were as well. SURPRISE!
The media has us all on the edge of our seats, waiting for the News Break……..myself included. In the End…….I hope that you are happy with what your Angels put on the field, and I wish them well!
they need another bat between pujols and trout, I am not sold on gentry and nava playing left field
Cespedes would have been perfect for the Angels. How many times did he throw out Trout at home from left field when he was with the A’s? But, alas, there is no more pennies in the piggy bank.
W/ that said…Nava/Gentry will produce defensively much better defensively then Joyce and Co last season…offensively I feel they will be slightly better…
LF will be less of a hole/liability than last season….
As for the bat to protect Trout/Pujols I see Cron making more improvement….
Do I want Cesepedes sure but I’m not going to blame Arte for not going over the cap to get him….
I root for tbe Angels regardless….I also feel this team (as constructed) will compete for the division and wildcard….
It’s going to be tough for the angels to get 85-90 wins, a lot of things have to go right for them
Don’t remember if he specifically threw out Trout at home, but it was a lot of Angels players. Whoever the Angels 3B coach is needs to be fired for that alone. You just don’t test that arm.
That goes for every team that has ever made the postseason. On paper the Royals should not have gotten as far as they did. But they did. The Rangers won the division despite being 13th in ERA. They did it by their offense vastly outplaying themselves after the ASB. The Angels will contend in 2016.
They don’t need another bat between Trout and Pujols. They already have Calhoun and Cron aside from those. They need a table setter at the top of their lineup. Having big bats in the middle means very little if guys are t getting on base in front of them.
Also, the Royals had one of the worst rotation ERA’s in all of baseball…for what it’s worth..
Funny you mention that. Gary Disarcina is no longer at 3rd. Roenicke is there and I’m sure he’ll get better results.
It was Dino who is now the bench coach. DiSarcina replaced him as 3b coach w/ less then desired success and moved to 1b coach. I don’t recall Cespedes throwing out Trout at home but I do remember him gunning HK w/ a perfect strike(what it took to get HK out) which wasn’t the fault of the fault of the base coach.
Let’s go Oakland
I hope to hell the Braves stay clear from this one long term. I do not think he is worth what he is asking in the grand scheme.
Do Braves’ fans value anyone not in a Braves’ uniform? This article is correct in stating that any team could benefit from adding Cespedes. Does he fit in with the Braves current scheme of tank and add every other teams’ best prospects to compete in 2020? Absolutely not, but he is absolutely worth as much if not more than what Chris Davis got. The Braves would certainly benefit from adding him, but it doesn’t make any sense for them to.
/Endrant about the ridiculous haul the Braves got for Shelby Miller. Also, give us Ender back lol.
braves fans do realize puttin YC behind freeman makes a huge difference. and having markakis and aybar up top with inciarte we will have a better squad. and when my boy dansby swanson comes up to lock down SS itll be a new time for this franchise. you cant build a contender over night, but u can now days allot quicker then most think. #braves
kman5000, yes I do realize Cespedes has extreme value and as Medlen mentions, behind Freeman he would be a beast. But the team has no reason signing a player that wants to be the highest paid player in our team. Even if all commenters are right and Braves do not compete until ’18, he would be a huge waste of salary for two years. Then you have him and Freeman making $40-50M combined out of the $95-110M Liberty throws at the team. No thanks.
Hopefully I am not duplicating my comment. How is it that it was just reported that Cespedes was looking for a 6 year contract at 22MM per (132 MM), right after the Mets offered 90 MM for 5 yrs. Now, it is being said that he wants more than 161 MM. Seems there is a bit of room for discussion between 90 MM and 161 MM.
The best fits for cespedes right now are the mets white sox and angels
BLUEJAYS
Maybe the Davis contract convinced him there’s more money out there?
cespedes is crazy I think baltimore will stand as the highest offer for him I can imagine cespedes not being signed until the start of sprig training
Guys…..Keep in mind that that report was by “Jim Bowden”……he always has some crazy idea that he knows what’s going on on the inside, when in fact…..he’s probably just having fun with all of us………don’t put a lot of stock in what Bowden claims to know…..he’s usually WAY off the mark.
E.g. Marlon Byrd to the Yankees (trade deadline 2014)
As much as I like Cespedes, I don’t want my Tigers to sign him. I feel we could get more out of Upton than we could out of Cespedes. Cespedes went off on NL pitching last year. I don’t think he can do the same against AL pitching since he’s been in the AL for almost his entire career and the pitchers there might have a better gameplan than NL pitchers. I don’t know. I could be wrong. I just prefer Upton more than Cespedes.
I say Tigers or White Sox. There would be a couple of other teams I can mention, but It would be my fanboy side talking.
Tigers
Oakland has a giant gaping hole in LF and he sure had a presence they need. Cespedes-Burns-Reddick is a postseason OF, and LF is one spot the A’s don’t have anything in the pipeline on the farm. Bring ’em back, Billy.
If short term or fancy opt outs, get er done Shapiro! Make the leagues best O even scarier!
I think Tigers may be waiting to finalize the JD Martinez contract before finishing a deal with Cespedes. And yes, it would be fitting that Tiger ownership would be tantalized by the opportunity to make that kind of deal. Frankly, there are few teams who would go Big and Long with a contract left ready to do that. Some are ready to go Big and Shorter ( Mets, White Sox, Braves, ???) but not Big and Long. And Cespedes should secure his future now if he can. Yankees need to clear some older Big and Longs they are living with now before turning Cespedes’s way. Phillies maybe, but they need a lot to contend again. Should be interesting.
The phillies would be a real sleeper, they are only one more year away from contending. If they had a power bat in the line up right now, then I see 2017 for them
i like this idea…who wants to live in Philly tho..well heck, i guess he did play for Det.
Is there something wrong with Philly now?
Philly is an awesome city. I lived there for a good chunk of years – covering the Phils 4 aces period, the final years of andy Reid, villinova’s time at the top of the big east, and the Eagles monstrous comeback vs the Giants. I’m a Yankee/gmen fan and a Syracuse grad. Philadelphia is not nearly as hostile as it used to be. I hate every philly sports team (except the flyers) but I absolutely love the city.
The Phillies are more than a year away from contending. They’re about a year from sniffing .500, then if they go crazy on the FA market they – might- start looking like contenders.
Prospects rarely come up and play like all-stars right from the jumpoff. If you think that just because Alfaro and Appel hit the bigs, they will immediately hit their ceiling, you are way wrong.
Still feel Cardinals are a dark horse right now. Need offense and another OF and of course want to hold on to that draft pick.
Agreed, Im guessing he lands in either: St. Louis, Detroit, or Anaheim.
gota love fellas keepin hope for their fav teams. like myself, braves proly have @ best a 5% chance of a sign here, but ill live on it til he clears big $$$ elsewhere.
i’m going with Houston. They have been willing to spend in the past few years and have missed out. they sign Cespedes and move Gomez if needed for tons of prospects ….
Is Dave Stewart in the market for OF, who is giving tons of prospects for one year of a guy who may have a serious hip injury?
One season of Carlos Gomez is never, ever, ever bringing in “tons of prospects”. Please don’t think like that.
Carlos gomez name alone in a contract year will bring good prospects…or the astros keep him. no biggie. they got him for cheap.
Padres not in on Cespedes? If they had money set aside for Upton why not get Cespedes and get a pick for Upton signing else where? The GM does not seem like he wants to rebuild or compete strange team.
Was the plan always for Upton to be just a one year thing? I guess that would make more sense.
If that were the plan, it might have been Plan B. The worst case scenario has you receiving a compensatory pick if you go for broke. Considering many of the picks Preller traded away weren’t his own I think deserves some attention. Also interesting that Dave Stewart ARZ did not draft Touki Touissaint, Aaron Blair, but did draft Swanson (that’s a head scratcher).
That actually makes a ton of sense, I have absolutely no idea what Preller is doing. It’s almost like he read all the press trashing him for cleaning house and is now in some weird rebuild limbo, waiting for the prospects he got from Boston to get ready.
When is Billy Beane going to Come to his senses. Signing Cespedes here would make the A’s contenders. He needs to right the wrong here. Bite the Bullet and give him 4 years 100 million with opt out after 2 years. Reddick in right, Burns in Center and Cespedes in left. The new bullpen and existing pitching staff should put the A’s in contention for the whole thing. Tired of the excuses. The A’s ownership is one of the richest in all of sports. 100 million over 4 years is not too much too ask for a proven commodity.
Additionally, they are losing Reddick at the end of the year and barring injury/disaster will be replacing him with the min wage Matt Olson. Even as a low payroll team they could afford him with a backloaded deal.
Who makes the most sense? Tigers, White Sox, Cardinals, maybe Yankees?
I can see Jays being in the cut on either him or Upton…
Latest reports have Yoenis Cespedes is looking for an AAV contract of about $22M over 6 years.
The White Sox ought to present two formal offer to Cespedes, one for 4 years at the AAV Cespedes seeks and the other for the 6 years he desires at a reduced AAV of $18M. Both contracts should include deferred dollars the first year to help offset the money still owed John Danks and Adam LaRoche in the final year of their respective deals.
Both Cespedes’ contract offers also ought to include a player opt-out after two seasons. This provides an extra incentive for the player to produce at the front end of the deal and in Cespedes’ case would allow him to hit the free agent market again at age 32 with an expected weak 2017 class. This opt-out would also line up with the expiring contracts of both Todd Frazier and Brett Lawrie, potentially freeing up more money for the organization as the team-friendly deals of Chris Sale, Jose Abreu (possible opt-into arbitration), Jose Quintana and Adam Eaton become more expensive. If Cespedes doesn’t opt-out, his contract of 4 or 6 years would still run concurrently with those of the aforementioned players, whose deals (with options) will expire following after the 2019 season (Sale and Abreu), the 2020 season (Quintana) and in 2021 (Eaton). The four year offer to Cespedes might also include a team option for 1 or 2 seasons with a buyout provision.
Btw-Carlos Rodon will also be under team control through 2021.
” include a player opt-out after two seasons. This provides an extra incentive for the player to produce at the front end of the deal and in Cespedes’ case would allow him to hit the free agent market again at age 32 with an expected weak 2017 class….”
after two years ,that would put him in the Winter 2018 season. I thought that class was very strong.
No. A two year opt-out gives Cespedes the opportunity to become a free agent following the 2017 season. That would be the 2017-2018 free agent market. It’s the class following the conclusion of the 2018 season (the 2018-2019 class) that looks to be the most formidable after this offseasons stellar group.
Rangers please.
With plenty of interest in and activity on Cespedes, there’s “no chance” he will be forced to take a “very short deal,” Jon Heyman
Yeah, Jon no doubt teams are lining up to give Cespedes a 7/170 deal
SMH
He’s a nice player, but he isn’t worth more that 5/100 or 5/110 iimo
Maybe the O’s will shock everyone again and sign him! With no pitching we need to power our way to the playoffs… Lol
I would rather the Braves sign Justin Upton. Five years would be good.
As much as that would be nice, he isn’t the type of player the Braves are looking for and one of these teams willing to pay for Cespedes will be willing to sign Upton. Upton only signs with the Braves on a one year deal, even if Braves get an increased payroll next year.
Agreed. Sure a little bitter o we the handling of his brother, professional or not.
If Justin is upset over “the handling” of his brother by the Braves he is a fool. They made his brother a very wealthy man and got absolutely nothing in return. They were also very patient with BJ Melvin and gave him way to many opportunities to turn things around, and if that isn’t enough they then traded him to his brothers new team!
I am a Tigers fan and I love Cespedes, but I’m convinced they are going to give Steven Moya an opportunity and will not enter the Cespedes sweepstakes. Plus, they are soon to give a long term deal to JD Martinez, so as much as I hate to say it, Cespedes will not be playing in Detroit next year…
Tyler Collins will get a chance before Moyà. Two platoons with three left handers does not work.
Both Collins and Moya are lefty. The righthanded options for the platoon with Gose are Mayberry Jr. and Aviles (who really isn’t an OF) and maybe Marte.
Well for sure he isnt going to my Giants. I see him going to the Tigers or maybe the white soxs.
Let’s do this Cashman! What are Yankees waiting for? Let’s ship out Gardner and sign Cespedes. At least make him a solid offer.
I think he’s worth $23 million a year
Give him 6 years at $138 million or even 7 years at $161 million. Package Gardner and Nova and grab another starter!!
Who are you trying to give that package to? You can’t just trade someone because you want to. Someone has to want them as well. I’m pretty sure if someone was willing to give a decent starter for that package, it would have already happened.
Nova doesn’t have a bunch of value – coming off injury and only has a season before fa. Gardner has some. (I’m a yank fan who really likes Gardner, but i can recognize the limitations). What possible sp do you think the yanks can get with that package? You have to find a team that’s willing to take on those two salary hits and has roster space for nova and Gardner. Maybe you can get a ubaldo esque player- flaky and has a significant contract… Or you can possibly get shields from the pads – but the yanks would have to eat the rest of his contract.
Additionally, you want the yanks to give up a sp, and an every day of so they can get another sp and an of that are going to cost more money?
It’s not happening.
That whole “takes two to make a trade” thing is a bear.
The trade works first w a team that’s interested in Gardner and like you and me is a fan of his. He can be an exciting everyday player. For me I’m just tired of him not using his super speed to steal and advance bases more often. He’s practically a bargain for all the tools he has. Nova being hurt last year should have a year similar to the one he had 2 yes ago. Also his best years are ahead of him. We need more starting pitching.
At A Messa stop smoking crack. Cashman not signing him. If you think he worth 23 million you need to stop smoking crack. Im willing to bet he lands with Washington at 6 years 120 million.5 95 million both with mult ops after 3 years and a buy out.
If the Tigers want to win a World Series, they are going to need some help in left field. They won’t win it all with the outfield that they have. Gose, Maybin, and Collins won’t cut it. They need a major upgrade. Mr. I has already said he doesn’t care about the money. Well, put your money where your mouth is and sign Cespedes NOW.
I would be very worried to sign Cespedes long term. #bust
Why? He has proven himself thus far
The Tigers need him. They want to win a world series? You won’t do it with Gose, Maybin, and Collins. You will need a major upgrade in left. Cespedes has played theret pretty much everyone wants him back. He said he would want to come back evenif he gets traded (even though he says that about all teams) Mr. I said he doesn’t care about money. Looks good to me. BRING BACK YO!!!!
An article by David Waldstein in the New Yord Times had a telling statement regarding Cespedes. He wrote: “….The Mets have concerns about how the 30-year-old Cespedes would perform after securing a long-term deal. They would prefer to have him in a situation in which he was motivated to prove his worth, as he was last year….”
I wonder how many other teams feel the same way and if that is a reason for him having trouble securing a long term deal.
“New York Times..
This exactly. No team would actually say this on the record, but that seems to be the conventional wisdom about Yo. That he’s all about Yo and maximizing his earnings.
Hence, the currently in vogue player opt-out. In most cases it benefits the player more than the team. In Cespedes case, the benefit might be more mutual. (lol)
Where are the Wilpon’s? He carried the Mets to the World Series literally on his back. They have not so much as offered a dollar for his services. The Wilpon’s are the worst owners in baseball. Sell the team!
Someone’s probably gonna bite on his hot streak.
If anyone is paying him back on a few months, as opposed to the years of work in total, they deserve to be saddled with a massive contract.
The Mets, like any team, shouldn’t care what what he’s done – rather, care about what they think he’s going to do.
I find it interesting that as of yesterday the common belief was that all the teams interested in Cespedes wanted only to talk about a 2 year or less deal. No one interested in long term deals, going over Luxury Tax, not the right fit, etc.
Davis gets a 7/$161MM deal that will pay $42MM of it after the contract is over.
Now there is “plenty of interest” and “no short term deal is possible”. Sounds like the rumor mill is centered around the agent.
Just means that a GM or two called his agent and asked about a short term deal, and were told no way because he’s got long term offers in his back pocket. Agents generally don’t bluff like that, with a matter that will be publicly known, as they’d never be taken seriously again.
Then explain Boras and his “mystery” teams
Yes, It appears that Scott Boras had Peter Angelos bidding against himself in the Chris Davis negotiations. Reminiscent of the contract negotiations between Boras and the Texas Rangers involving FA Alex Rodriguez many years back when owner Tom Hicks was seemingly bidding against himself after the closest team (Mets) had already pulled out of the talks.
I would go for a Nelson Cruz-esque deal on Cespedes with a few opt outs
Cespedes is a little too old at 30 to have multiple opt-outs like the ones the Cubs gave to Jason Heyward this offseason. One opt-out would be sufficient, likely after the second year of any long term deal.
As long as the Cards stay away from this guy. He was terrible in the playoffs. He does need to be in the NL though.
Why does he need to be in the NL? His best full year was in the AL, with the A’s. Pitching is better in the NL, too.
Plus he would have an opportunity to DH in the A.L. as he aged along with his contract.
He would be the greatest physical athlete to ever DH, lol.
You know he still takes regular reps at SS, right? Did you forget his video of him doing ridiculously athletic things? He’s going to be in LF when he’s 40.
Tigers. Done.
I smell propaganda!! After all I’m a cat… I have great senses.
AL East: NYY-working in the young players and OF is full. –
Bal-just spent their wad, and need to replace Chen in the rotation.
Boston-Spent on pitching, too close to the cap.
Tor-full OF, no money
TB- not known for big contracts, trying to move Looney’s 8MM contract
AL Central: Cleveland-makes sense, but they play small market when it comes to FA
Chicago-makes sense, but they don’t want to go more than 3 years.
Detroit-spent on pitching, too close to cap.
KC- No money, no need in OF
Min= New stadium, young team, but no obvious opening-sleeper pick.
AL West: LAA-no room under cap.
Oakland- small budget, too expensive.
Seattle-full OF, too expensive
Houston=full OF
Texas-makes sense, money tight.
NL East: Atlanta- rebuilding
Miami-Full OF, but he is Cuban. no faith in owner.
NYM-No budget, would have to play him in CF.
Phi- rebuilding
Wash- would move Harper to CF, Owner has Boras ties.
NL Central: CHC- no need.
Cin- rebuilding
Mil- rebuilding
Pit-full OF, no money
St. L-would req him to play RF, owners not enthusiastic.
NL West ARZ-who knows what Stewart is up to. possible fit.
LAD
LAD-crowded OF
SF- full OF
Col- rebuilding, too many OFs
SD- pulling back after spending last year.
Prediction: Washington jumps in.
The Nationals just traded for lead-off hitting CF Ben Revere. Their OF is plenty full with Bryce Harper in RF and Jason Werth in LF, along with former CF Micheal Taylor as a backup/platoon partner.
Werth is a serious injury risk, and turns 37 in May. Taylor has options left (I believe). Nats need to make improvements this winter and were in on Heyward. Span was a knee-jerk signing. Probably a long-shot that they re-shuffle at this point, but they could use his bat (like everyone else).
Your list shows that there’s no “gaping hole” waiting for Cespedes and Upton to fill” on any team. Upgrades are there, but it doesn’t appear that any team with money to spend has an opening. That means, teams are working on creative solutions to the age-old problem…..”How can we sign this guy”. That process takes time.
I have no solid guess where Cespedes ends up. I have him on my FBB roster in an NL-only keeper league…..so I just want him in the NL somewhere!…..LOL
Um SF does NOT have a full OF. They have a huge, gaping hole in LF Cespedes could fill.
You have to look at what is the options and who is really left to get these players. First off the O’s were smart and went public about upping their interest in Davis. But I’m almost 100% sure not 100 % but close that the front office said let put a scare into SB and Davis, and went public about trying to sign Cespedes. To see if Davis and SB would bite. They did. Really I’m almost sure they had no real interest in signing Cespedes, unless Davis forced their hand and signed somewhere else first. I’m 100% positive they would have not signed Cespedes with Davis still unsigned. Their heart was with Davis the whole time. They were just running out of patience and played the bluff card.. Davis still could have made them wait. It was like a big poker game with the bluff. It worked. Enough said.
As far as the remaining FA outfield. Look at the remaining realistic teams out their first.
Tigers, W Nash, Whitesox Astros, Mets, St.L – And a very very 100 to 1 long shot Cubs but not on these players.
Then the FA – Upton, Cespedes, Fowler, and the Rockies Outfield
——————————————————————————————-
So it is a simple puzzle to pretty much figure out, Unless something weird happens.
Someone not getting a player.also.
Really as far as Cespedes there is only 3 places he can really go that is realistic wo someone just doing an Arizonia thing. Those teams are Tigers, Astros and Nashionals.
To eliminate the other teams Mets, Whitesox and St.L is pretty simple. Mets want a short term deal something Cespedes is not willing to do at this point. The Whitesox pretty much want the same so you can pretty much throw those teams out..Being real here. If Cespedes was serious about getting signed he could have played an ACE to the O’s and used them to his advantage. While they used him to get to Davis, he could have said look I take 100 Million at 5 years and probably got the deal done. Maybe out in 3 or 4. Even 120 at 6 with an out at 4 or 3. Back loaded and he probably would have been an O. Esp if they were serious about being mad at Davis. He could have used that to his advantage. Pretty much sneak in there and under cut Davis. There was not a lot of place for Davis to go. The O’s knew that and really so did Davis and SB. So no one was fooling no one. I would have jumped on that when it went public id I was Cespedes.
St. L is NOT spending the money on him, at least not long term. They have a better idea which is a better idea. The Cubs are not in play for Cespedes plain and simple.
So If I was a betting man I say probably even odds 1-to 1 he goes to the Astros or Tigers. Tiger are not afraid to spend, they said that. The Astros will spend, but they still have to keep in mind how to extend their aces contract before 2018. I’m sure the budget is in their heads about that situation..
Although you can flip flop between the Tiger and Astros as being the new home home of Cespedes. . But getting to Umpton his realistic choice are also Tigers and Nationals or Astros. Both of these players will go to one of these teams. Pick one.
I see Umpton more going to Nationals than Det. It is possible he could go to the Astros if the Tigers grab Ces.. St.L again is NOT spending the money they said that like 400 times so forget St. L fans. Cubs are not in play for Umpton. So its pretty simple and just time for both of these players. One will be in Det, one in Washington or One in Wash and one in Hust.. Odds are Cespedes is an Astro and Upton in Wash or Det. So that pretty much sums them up. Plain and simple. As far as the WSox they can’t afford Umpton so stop dreaming.
Now were down to White Sox and St.L and the Cubs on Flowler. The Cubs are a very very very long shot. But nothing impossible. Really he should taken that 15.8 QO.
The Sox could sign him, but it be only a 2 or 3 year deal maybe an Club or Mult out after 2. St. L could do the same but doubtful, one because they have a better plan, and two giving up that pick to the Cubs after all this Winter wont hold water. St.L is NOT is a long shot to sign Flower and pretty much done this Winter. Sorry St. L fans but reality.. So Odds are slim. Going back to Cubs is slim also, but if he came back and said I go 16 Million at one year, I’m almost positive Theo figure out the funds and a way to make it work, but short of 1 year 16 million the Cubs aren’t interested, and don’t need to be.
Flower will probably go to Sox its the only place left really, but if I say IF the Tigers and Wash land both Ces and Umpton I see the Astros grabbing Flower and the Whitesox the odd man out simple as that. or back to the Cubs on a one year deal if none of the 3 (Wash,Det,Astros don’t pick him up (Flower). St. L possible but odds are very very slim. Best realistic choice is Astros although they want Ces or the Whitesox.
St.L is not really interest in anyone left, they can offer a lot to Colorado for a great Outfielder, a hitter which they need, a big hitter, and no draft choice attached, plus they have the trade material to get it done. Colorado will trade an outfielder to St. L before its all said and done. Bank it.
That finishes anyone who is really important on the FA list left over. DONE! Very simple. Not saying it is 100% but it probably the most realistic way it will go the rest of the off season into Spring T,
I totally agree with your thoughts on where Cespedes goes. I don’t think it will be Nat’s b/c outfield is locked up and pretty full. It will either be Astros or Detroit but, Detroit has guys coming up to pay that will put them way over luxury tax. The Astros have $ and payroll flexibility and he doesn’t cost a draft pick. No way Astros sign Fowler b/c we traded him away b4 and he isn’t an all star type guy worth moving into crowded outfield like Cespedes would be worth. My money is on Ces to the Astros. Only guy they gotta pay is Kuechel but they have 2 more yrs to figure that out & he just signed for 7 mil to avoid his first yr of arbitration. Astros make most sense.
Good point on Fowler. Yes Det will be over lux tax. But who knows all could do pillow 1 yr deals.
Agreed bretoman – Now that one prediction has come true ask Umpton to Det, that was easy – Now it basic –
Cespedes has really 4 choices – inless someone pulls a MLB shocker like Arz did. Called them mystery team.
Frst my money is on the Astros. Hust was hot last year and came out the box hot. To be real they are only one or two players away from really making a threat in the AL. Maybe even a title. Ces could be that piece that does it. Tasking nothing away from KC but they did lose 2 of 3 players. Thats a big blow. Had they NOT signed Gordon I would have put them in 2nd place. I still think they take that Central over Det. So I just see the Astros as the winner.
WS & Mets would have to put a deal together that was at least 4 or 5 years. If it includes a Opt or mult opt or club opt so be it, but 1 or 2 years wont get it done. Maybe 3 but very very doubtful. I see 5 years 105 with an opt after 3 and mut opt at 4 and buyout. If it is the Mets or Sox. Really sox are more of a favorite. They must NOW counter Det Umpton signing if their really serious. Either way, Ces will not win the Sox the division so they may pass at this point, and just wait, maybe go for Flower at 2 32 Million – St.L is not in the mix said that already. Look for a Colorado St.L trade with in I say 1 to 2 weeks.
Wash probably fell off the bandwagon. They are full, they may just want to make a statement this winter never know. So that is were I see all this going right now. The Dark Horses like Pitt, Miami, Clev and Maybe the Dodger could be in play. Pitt has done nothing, if them looking at the Cubs I might want to think about it. They have to do something, because their not making post season this year, with the Giants and Arz going up. N WC 1 game play-offs don’t cut it. Clev has to be thinking about either rebuild or don’t. They have the pitching and NO hitting. When do you make a move. WS, Det, KC all have done their thing. So either rebuild and trade some pitching or start buying. Miami is close so close and one move could win that division for them. Really their more closer than people think. Dodgers need to get over Grez, stop buying every pitcher there is and start getting at least one good hitter. Ces would be it. So those are my dark horses. Angeles are not going over Lux tax. Toronto don’t need power they need pitching. The O’s spent their wad on Davis. That’s it- Hust will get Cesp bank it.
How long did it take you to write this?
I might add stymeedone was pretty dead on with all the teams. But really Astros, Tigers, Wash, Whitesox are the 4 teams left to pick up 3 players in Ces, Upton and Flower. Someone going to come up short. St.L has their own plan with Colorado, patience Card fans and I’m a Cubs fan but it get done. Yankee fans so desperately want the Yanks to sign some big name. NOT happening guys sorry. Your no longer owned by the guy who didn’t care what he spent. Welcome to a realistic owner. They want young players, even if they have to wait. If they wait you wait. No one going to the Yankees. So no need to even discuss it. Dodgers are so pissed about thier pitcher they may sign a few more pitchers lol. But no outfielder sorry and their payroll is F%$ked so not happening Dodger people. DET, HUST, WASH, W SOX Those are your teams in real reality- someone not getting a piece of the pie. Which one who knows?
I’ll repeat: Washington just traded for Ben Revere. Their OF is plenty full now with him, Bryce Harper, Jason Werth and Michael Taylor.
Very true. However, Werth’s contract is up in two years, so if Mike Rizzo is shopping for his replacement, he might not see anybody he wants in next year’s (or the following year’s) free agent class and therefore might be willing to buy now even though it would create a logjam in the outfield this year. Michael Taylor could spend the year in AAA. I’m not saying it’s likely, but possible. If it happens, though, I believe it would be Upton, not Cespedes, because of Rizzo’s connection to him from his days in Arizona.
Most of us have seen Ben Revere. He is a limited player more worthy of being a 4th OF, and pinch runner. That trade was more about moving Storen.
Werth could easily be traded.
Not so “easily.” Jayson Werth has a full no-trade clause in his contract.
Not to mention the fact that he is owed 42MM for his age 37 and 38 year seasons and is coming off what was far and away his worst season ever, even if it was injury plagued. They would have to eat a ton of salary to move Werth.
Detroit is out because of the salary cap. Thought you started out by saying you agreed with me. lol
I did agree with you posting stymeedone. But Det owner doesn’t care about Cap – Now its been proven. remember what I said. DET – WASH – HUST – WS
Det now off the board with Umpton, Lux tax or not. That was easy Hu.
Now were down to Ces and Flowler and 3 teams – My Pick is Hust sorry but I think well almost know he be an Astro – Wash I think has fell out now. Maybe not completley. I still think Your looking at Hust gets Ces and Sox Flowler on a 2 year deal.. But I still like the 3 teams left Hust, Wash and WS. Inless the Mets pull off a mircle idea to convince either one of them.
My prediction either the Brew Crew or plays in Japan for a few years
I’m calling the mystery team to make this deal. It will be surprising.
This will make some people laugh…….But….Don’t count out the Marlins. They were shopping Ozuna this winter, and could move Yelich back to CF, sign Cespedes (Latino connection) to play left. Loria isn’t oppose to big contracts with opt-outs, but he won’t give out a no-trade clause (maybe he would for the first 2 years, before the opt-out…???). Loria has been known to pull off a crazy deal……
Gordon
Yelich
Stanton
Cespedes
Prado/Dietrich
Bour/Johnson
Realmuto
Hechavarria (for now)
I agree, I think the Marlins and Giants are the true wild card teams who could easily land Cespedes.
I like SF for him too, they don’t really have too much in LF and Cespedes-Span-Pence would be a very great OF indeed.
If sign anyone now it would be for 1 year but on here a lot dreaming happens until the player sign.as an O’s fan I do not think they should sign ces or upton. Only focus should be on pitching but this team is weird on the way it handles there needs .i was shocked by Davis I always view P.A. As a cheap owner .but maybe he put some cash in his team to try and win before he dies
My prediction:
Yakult Swallows.
What do u guys think of this trade proposal if the Whitsox are out of contention by the trade deadline:
Astros get: Sale
Whitsox get: Preston Tucker OF, Moran 3B top 10 prospect, Feliz SP top ten prospect, Mike Friers SP, Daz Cameron OF Top ten prospect.
All of those guys are either top ten prospects in Astros team or former like Tucker, and Mike Friers is a solid 3-4 pitcher. The Astros get an ace and the whitesox get two quality pitchers, two top ten OF Prospects, and Preston Tucker who hit 13 hr’s in like 40 games last year as a rookie. Fair or not enough?
Not even close. Sale isn’t available and to even get the White Sox to think about it you’d have to use MLB names like Atluve, Correa and Springer to keep them on the phone. Not happening, ever. Same for Sonny Gray. Neither guys are getting traded unless a certified all-star/MVP-level talent is coming back that makes everyone go “woah”.
Don’t bother thinking about it.
If “future luxury tax concerns” scuttled a Davis signing,then a Cespedes signing,I think,would fall into the same category.Since Davis was not a good fit to begin with, it tells me Detroit is seriously looking for a big bat. Tax concerns could be related to only wanting a shorter than 6-7 year deal,a lower AAV that can be worked around or both. Still not enough info to get a good read as to any new changes.The waiting game continues.
I agree. It’s a slow news day when updates include the reason they are wrong. Concerns over the salary cap. If his price drops. It’s been six weeks, things COULD have changed. Since they discussed Davis (sure they did) they MAY be looking for a power bat. Pure rubbish.
I have a hard time believing that the Tigers were even remotely considering Davis.
Peralta was a disaster even going from SS to LF in Comerica, which is huge and requires almost another centerfielder to play. Every other move this new regime made was about defense and pitching.
Obviously DH and 1st are literally clogged up with Miggy and VMART.
There would be absolutely nowhere for Davis to play.
I hope Astros finally spend some $ and get Cespedes at 5 yr $110 million. Our current salary is around $80 million and next year our two outfielders Rasmus and Gomez are two of the top OF’s in a weak free agent market. We could then use our abudence of OF Prospects to trade for starting pitching and we could move Rasmus to backup OF’er or DH. It makes alot of sense to spend $ now on quality player vs waiting 2-3 for OF prospects to develop and b4 our top guys are due big pay days. We would have one of the best lineups in baseball with this one move.
Im calling it now. Unless Detroit or Angels want to go over luxury tax or Cespedes takes a short term deal (he won’t) I think the Astros are going to take him at around 5 yrs 110 million w/ an opt out after 2 or 3. I also don’t see how the Nationals can get him with their crowded outfield. And b4 u say same about Astros Rasmus and Gomez r free agents after this year and we could move Rasmus to back-up OF’er or DH and outfield problem solved. And with their cheap payroll they can afford this. The only guy on Astros that they have to work out long term deal with soon is Kuechel and he has two more years and just signed for like 7 million for 2016 to avoid arbitration. I really think we have best shot at him especially b/c he has no draft pick attached and next year we can put a Qualifying Offer on Gomez to gain a draft pick.
Intensity all forward fire power…it’s too late
Why is Upton not being considered for every team that is considering Cespedes?
Defense.
The draft pick Upton has on him.
When you are spending $100MM, a draft pick is superfluous.
KC did not care about their 1st rounder for Kennedy and they still gave him $70MM. If a small market team like KC doesn’t care, who does?
The Ian Kennedy contract was the worst, dumbest FA signing of this offseason though. A smart team does not make this move. Dayton Moore seems to have reverted to his pre-2014 self. That trade was so brutal I still can’t believe it happened. Kennedy deserved at most a 3/30 deal.
Please do not take the outlier Kennedy deal to mean that’s who every team is going to operate now. Upton’s draft pick prevents him from going to a contending team with an unprotected pick who don’t view him as too much of a game-changer. Cespedes has no draft pick, he’s a lot more enticing.
Upton works for a team with a lower of the ladder pick or a protected one, but his market does not = Cespedes one
KC has a limited window. They are between a rock and a hard place. They will have to start trading their players next year if they cannot sign them, or risk getting nothing. They didn’t have the option of just waiting.
The Tigers are going to have to make a move in Left Field. If they don’t, I do not see the playoffs in there future.
I think Detroits playoff hopes revolve more around Miggy not missing 40+ games and VMart not hitting like he’s toast as a big leaguer, as well as having some semblance of a MLB bullpen. Cespedes helps that a little but their entire postseason chances do not revolve around acquiring him. Way more important factors in play there….
If ““future luxury-tax concerns” scuttled the signing” of Chris Davis in Detroit, then the same figures to apply to the prospect of signing Yoenis Cespedes. Of course, owner Mike Ilitch would be the wild card here but he, apparently, never signed off on the Davis proposition so it’s questionable that he may agree to a Cespedes or Justin Upton contract despite a more obvious opening in LF than at 1B or DH.
The Tigers have Gose, Collins, Mayberry Jr., and Aviles to play LF. They feel they have enough candidates. We may not agree, but that doesn’t matter.
Can I get a little credit here. Upton to the Tigers. Done