There is divide in both the Yankees' and Marlins' front offices on whether to pursue Yoenis Cespedes, according to Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com. Knobler says the two clubs, along with the Red Sox, may not be as heavily involved in the bidding for the Cuban outfielder as expected.
While there have been conflicting reports on the Yankees' interest in Cespedes, the Marlins are regarded by some teams as the favorite for the 26-year-old, as Knobler wrote earlier this week. According to Knobler, however, Cespedes has told people he plans to make his permanent home in the Dominican Republic rather than Miami, and may prefer to play for a team besides the Fish. Some people within the Yankees' organization, meanwhile, view Cespedes as too raw to justify the price tag, and favor a modest bid that will likely not be enough to land him.
Even with Cespedes moving closer to establishing residency in the Dominican, it doesn't appear he'll officially become a free agent until sometime in January.
joeybw
Yanks, Sox and Marlins may all be out? Time to take out my pipe and dream about the Rays going for him. He can play RF and Joyce can DH. Oh god, JUST DO IT FRIEDMAN, I will pay you back, 100 bucks a month for the rest of my life.
Sam Bliesner
I was thinking the exact same thing. I’d love for them to pick him up!
wcg1380
Yuniesky Betancourt was brought in to make Yoenis’ transition to Kansas City easier… they both speak Cuban
BigbossNYY
hahaha speak cuban? u mean spanish right?
wcg1380
Cuban can’t be the same as Spanish or then giving Yunitard $2M makes no sense at all!
Lunchbox45
stop speaking american!
d32123
LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!! I get your humor, dude!
sam_lammert
anyone else think the cardinals should go for him? i mean then we’ll have an outfield on beltran cespedes holliday, then they can start trade talks with craig and jay for prado
stl_cards16
I wouldn’t be against going after him but we might as well forget about it. It’s not going to happen.
sam_lammert
unfortunately i agree with that, it won’t happen, just maybe wishful thinking and hoping that could be the organizations gift to the fans haha
joeybw
We’ll I’d be for the Cards signing him and trading for Craig. I seem to love any possible 1B option. Hey, you guys willing to trade Matt Adams?
sam_lammert
not really, hes our man when berkman retires, hoping he can continue his success in the big leagues, and are you saying your team trades for craig? hes much more of an outfielder than 1b
stl_cards16
Absolutely. You guys willing to trade Matt Moore?
Edit: That was sarcasm before someone gives me a whole paragraph about how Moore has more value than Adams.
Phil Mann
yeah but then if you trade craig and jay for prado, youll still have 4 outfielders with too big of contracts to have one sitting on the bench. Prado can’t play third because of Freese.
sam_lammert
no we wouldn’t, prado would be used at second base
Phil Mann
oh yeah, i forgot prado also played every other position including hot dog vendor. it could happen, but its a long shot.
sam_lammert
oh yes, very long shot, and we were thinking of using him more as a beer man then hot dog vendor
stl_cards16
“4 outfielders with too big of contracts to have one sitting on the bench”
Cespedes, Holliday, and Beltran. That’s 3 outfielders. Prado’s best fit is at 2nd. That’s where he has the most value IMO.
jwsox
Whitesox possibility getting stronger and stronger
Goldnoctober xboxliv
KW loves cubans, Dayan in right Cespedes in left
Cachhubguy
They get him cigars.
notsureifsrs
it all turns on his defense, in my mind. he looks like a guy with 25 HR power (maybe more) and good speed, but hardly any plate discipline. his OBPs will not impress, but if he’s an average or better defensive centerfielder, he will be quite valuable (a better version of adam jones)
any team that wants to play him in RF should be really wary. unless he has great defense out there, he might not be anything special (a better version of melky cabrera)
JacksTigers
Welcome to Detroit Mr. Cespedes.
Civilization
Why do so many Detroit fans have such a hard on for this kid? The price tag is going to be bad for a guy who really is an unknown quality. I just don’t get the unbridled interest that Detroit fans seem to have for this kid in mass.
Shawn 'Nahuatl' Cardenas
I thought the White Sox were the top team pursuing Cespedes?
JacksTigers
Where’d you hear that?
jwsox
There was a writer who wrote that the sox were strong on him. It’s actually on this site some where from a few days ago. What makes you think he is going to Detroit?
JacksTigers
There is a HUGE difference between being the front runner, as Shawn stated, and being strong on him.
I think that Detroit has a good shot at getting him because they have a need for him, have an owner who is willing to spend on him (White Sox don’t. They are looking to cut payroll.) and have shown a lot of interest in him.
jwsox
Kenny Williams has never said anything about cutting payroll neither and reinsdorf. With peavy and aj gone next season thats close to 30 million off the books along with a probable trade of Floyd, Thornton, Quentin and rios( even eating all but 2 mill a year is saving money) there is your payroll cutting right there while still being able to sign cepedes. I do agree the tigers have a shot but they have a crowded outfield as is and no room at dh. I would say the tiger have just as good of a shot as the sox. Neither truly needs him but both could use. The only edge the sox have is having two of his teammates from the Cuban national team in alexi and vicedio already locked up that could sway him because he might be more comfortable with guys he knows on the team
Josh Gedert
There’s already have been 2 scouts who have said he will probably be going to the Tigers. If you want me to direct you to the article, I will. I know it might not mean anything, but the Tigers look to have the best shot right now.
jwsox
Could you I would like to read it. Also it does not matter what a scout says it’s all about agents and execs
Josh Gedert
The article is titled “Tigers Emerge as Front-runner for Cespedes” and it’s on Tigers Scout. But do you really think the White Sox are really in this? I think they’re trying to raise the price for the Tigers.
jason helth
absolutely the white sox are in on him… the tigers wont get him… keep dreaming on..
cespedes played with both viciedo and ramirez in cuba… as long as the white sox make a competitive offer, they win… sorry detroit, you wont get him.
i’m not a white sox fan either, just an fyi.
Josh Gedert
Yeah, okay. That’s 100% speculation. I’m not saying the Tigers get him, but I highly doubt the Sox will get him.
jason helth
ok
JacksTigers
Trolololol.
Aj 13
Y dont the rangers get him and move Josh Hamilton to left field?!?!
The_Unnatural
They’re trying to keep Hamilton away fom the white lines.
jwsox
Low blow, funny but wrong.
CircusFresh
Anyone know how good this guy really is? Or is this just a crap shoot hoping for a positive ending?
Only time I ever saw this kid play was in the WBC against Australia. He seemed very talented, but it was 2008 and he was going up against Australian pitching which was not MLB caliber.
notsureifsrs
if he were 20 or even 22, he’d be a top 5 prospect. he’s 26, though, so flashy tools don’t mean as much. he doesn’t have strong on-base skills, so teams are probably very wary of his transition to MLB pitching
CircusFresh
Thanks.
Mark S
26*
Muggi
Exactly. Scouts estimate Cuban baseball as roughly comparable to high-A ball in terms of competition so…he’s basically 3-4yrs behind a standard minors->MLB progression schedule.
Tko11
The highlight video that was provided to attract attention to him wasn’t anything spectacular. Seems like hes just trying to get that big day really. But who knows maybe he will be a great player. I wouldn’t take my chances on him if I was a gm though. Too much money, he may actually be 36 and not 26, and it seems like they are trying hard to sell him.
Mo_GOAT
When i see the name Cespedes i think of Centipedes
William Lappe
I know it has nothing to do with baseball or your comment, but I’m a huge wresting fan…..appreciated your name. CM Punk rocks!
Tigers94
whats wresting?
cody2818
i dont understand why he wouldnt want to live in miami (if he plays for the marlins or not) because it basically cuba jr. just without fidel castro.
East Coast Bias
The Yankees and Marlins switched identities this offseason.
Mo_GOAT
When i see the name Cespedes i think of centipedes
JacksTigers
Where have I heard this before….?
/looks 3 comments up
Ahhh, yes.
Tired_OF_FakeRumors
Torrealba hit an umpire in the face after striking out in the Venezuelan winter league.
Slopeboy
That’s about all he can hit.
d32123
Yanks should stay away from this guy, imo. Saying this as a Yankee fan. Our outfield is fine.
steven-6
Trade swisher and sign Cesepedes
bj82
I wonder if Cespedes can play in winter league in DR?
Snoochies8
Maybe this means the a’s can swoop in as a darkhorse team haha..ha ha….sigh
Sylow59
The MArlins
1) sign Bell
2) sign Reyes, heavy backloaded
3) which POs Hanley.
4) They sign a good, not great, starter in Burhle to a heavy backloaded contract
5) Wilson and Pujols take a whole lot less not to go to the Marlins
6) They do not pursue anyone else
7) in an area with a large Cuban population they may not pursue Cespedes
8) there’s that pesky investigation
Is it me, or is the Reyes / Marlins deal going to be a disaster of epic proportions?
East Coast Bias
Reyes is one of the most dynamic players the game has right now. If he’s on the field, he’ll be worth it. Even if he misses a few games each year, he’ll be worth it.
Tulo played 143 and 122 last year and the year before, respectively.
Hanley, 92 and 142, same time.
Reyes has 126 and 133.
Tulo – 265
Hanley – 234
Reyes – 259
It’s not as bad as people make it out to be.
Thomas Cassidy
The problem is he usually misses a lot more than a few games. If he’s healthy, he’s one of the best in the game. We’ll just have to wait and see.
jwsox
I highly doubt the marlins actually offered Albert more money than the angles…
DickHarden
When i see the name Cespedes i think of CM Punk.
Tigers94
not related to your comment, but you, have the best name on MLBTR. I never even realized that about Rich Harden until I saw your name, its so funny
Victor
As a Fish Fan, I say we pass on this guy. Too many question marks to justify the contract. We’re fine in the OF w/ Stanton, LoMo, and Bonifacio. Coghlan could serve as depth off the bench. Sign Saunders. Done.
Kyle Haker
This probably means the yankees are gonna push for soler. F. So much for him being an O.
BaseballLogic_Braves
It’s weird to see the Yankees and Marlins going after the same Free agent (or not)