The Mets have officially acquired outfielder Yoenis Cespedes from the Tigers, as Bruce Levine of 670thescore.com first reported on Twitter. In return, Detroit will get righties Michael Fulmer and Luis Cessa from New York, as Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reported on Twitter. GM Sandy Alderson says the Mets will pay all of the approximately $3.75MM remaining on Cespedes’ 2015 salary, David Lennon of Newsday tweets.
With the move, New York finally lands the power bat it was rumored to be pursuing for some time in the lead-up to the deadline. New York had already added reliever Tyler Clippard, third baseman Juan Uribe, and utilityman Kelly Johnson. After a widely-reported deal for Carlos Gomez fell through, the Mets turned their sights to alternatives and ultimately landed the 29-year-old slugger.
The Mets were said to be going after a controllable piece that was capable of playing center field, such as Gomez, but changed course in adding the free-agent-to-be Cespedes, who has spent most of his time in left. With Michael Cuddyer potentially out longer than had been hoped, Cespedes figures to take over there. But the club is also reportedly considering utilizing Curtis Granderson in center in some situations, as incumbent Juan Lagares has struggled since signing a significant extension before the season.
Cespedes is highly talented, if sometimes inconsistent, but he’s been outstanding in 2015. He’s hitting close to the levels he did in his breakout rookie campaign back in 2012, after two high-power/low-OBP seasons in between, with a .293/.323/.506 slash and 18 home runs through 427 plate appearances. Cespedes is delivering more hard contact, a better line-drive percentage, and more home runs per flyball than he has over any single full season. And Cespedes has increased his output on the defensive side of the ledger as well, drawing strong reviews from defensive metrics.
MLB.com now ranks Fulmer and Cessa the fifth- and ninth-best prospects, respectively, in an improved Tigers farm system. The 22-year-old Fulmer, the 44th overall pick in the 2011 draft, was in the midst of an impressive season at Double-A Binghamton, posting a 1.88 ERA, 8.7 K/9 and 2.4 BB/9 in 86 innings. MLB.com notes that his fastball is regularly in the mid-90s, and that he has a strong slider and a changeup good enough that he could one day be a Major League starter.
Cessa, meanwhile, is a 23-year-old converted infielder who performed well for Binghamton, with a 2.56 ERA, 7.1 K/9 and 2.0 BB/9 in 77 1/3 frames. He struggled after a promotion to hitter-happy Triple-A Las Vegas, but maintained his solid peripherals, striking out 24 batters and walking four despite allowing an unsightly 23 earned runs in 24 1/3 innings there. MLB.com notes that his fastball is generally around 93 MPH, and that he could wind up in the back end of a big-league rotation.
Cespedes now finds himself on his fourth team since last summer. He was dealt from the Athletics to the Red Sox, then to the Tigers over the winter, before landing in New York. It’s an unlikely series of transactions, all said.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
They gave up Wheeler for a 2 month rental. Mets got desparate :\
That was fake Rosenthal.
Would be a great deal for Mets. Cespedes is pretty much exactly what the Mets need, and they’re right there with the division for the taking. Wheeler is a big question mark and really only had half a good season anyway. Won’t be himself again until mid-2016. Not sure why everyone thinks he’s so valuable.
It would be a terrible deal for the Mets. You’d be giving up several years of control for 55 games of Cespedes.
It would be a terrible deal for the Mets. You’d be giving up several years of control of Wheeler for 55 games of Cespedes.
Sorry about that. I meant….
They gave up Fulmer for a 2 month rental. Mets got desparate :\
Come on Cardinals pull this off
Mystery team: St. Louis Cardinals
Part of me says the Padres will get him for Tyson Ross.
Padres are SO not interested in another poor-fielding right handed outfielder.
Cespedes is not a poor fielder. He is more than just a great arm. He has tons of range.
real rosenthal said niese and nimmo for bruce is done.
No he didn’t nor would he that is a bad trade for the Reds.
He did?
nevermind, i was fooled by good ole’ @ken_rosentha1
It was the Cardinals. You’re welcome.
It was the Cardinals. You’re welcome.
It was the Cardinals. You’re welcome.
He did?
Rosenthal is tweeting RIGHT NOW that Jay Bruce has not been traded yet.
Cespedes is among the best AL outfielders in Defensive Runs Saved…
It’s the METS
It’s the Mets!
Two minor league guys.
Can this guy stay on a team longer than 6 months?
Blame his contract.
traded to the mets for michael fuller and luis cessa
traded to the mets for michael fuller and luis cessa
traded to the mets for michael fuller and luis cessa
mets acquire cespedes
mlbdailydish.com/2015/7/31/9081553/mets-trade-yoen…
Where are all the LOLMETS people now?
Right here. I’m sure he’ll hit nicely for two months.
mets acquire cespedes
mlbdailydish.com/2015/7/31/9081553/mets-trade-yoen…
glad the white sox passed on a rental. should have been sellers instead, but o well
*Cespedes immediately starts hammering on hip*
The Mets got robbed. That’s an unbelievable overpay. It’s incredible the Reds didn’t accept a similar package.
Define “unbelievable overpay.” Our 6th best prospect for 2 months of an all star outfielder with a shot at making the playoffs for the first time in about a decade?
The Mets could have included a little but more and gotten 2 years and 2 months of Bruce instead of just 2 months of Céspedes. At the moment, Cessa and Fulmer were the Mets’ best healthy pitching prospects, both guys with #3/4 floors and #2 ceilings.
Lol…. what are you smoking? Yeah, I love Fulmer and think he’s as talented as Montero, but he’s had injury after injury and a lot of scouts think he might be destined for the bullpen. Cessa has never ever been considered anything more than a back of the rotation arm. In fact, many live scouting reports said his stuff isn’t that impressive.
What did you expect for one of the premier OFs in the game? They didn’t give up any of their top five prospects and already have 5-6 guys slated for the rotation for the next few years, and that doesn’t account for Gsellman, Ynoa, Molina and the talent they added this past draft. Chill.
Any Mets fans with insight on the two pitchers?
Cessa: Decent pitcher. I’d say potential for good bullpen pitcher.
Fulmer: Really good all around started. Projects as good #2 starter, excellent #3 starter.
Scouts also say there is about a 50/50 chance that Fulmer is a starter. Joba Chamberlain is a frequent comparison…
There’s a huge difference between the two, though. The Mets pitcher development system is a heck of a lot better than the Yankee equivalent. This a team that has developed Harvey, deGrom, Syndergaard, and Matz to #1/2 and Wheeler as a #3 with upside within the past 3 seasons.
The Mets ballpark is more conducive to pitchers as well.
Joel Sherman tweeted that “Scout raved to me this morning that Fulmer reminds of young Garza/Garret Richards. No mention of Chamberlain.
Pleeeease, don’t compare anyone to Chamberlain or Coke when talking to Detroiters.
Agree on Fulmer, but he has his fair share of downside. He’s been injured almost annually and a lot of scouts are scared by his delivery. He’s got a ton of talent but it’s a solid trade for both sides.
I have to say the Tigers received a much better then the Braves did when they traded Alex Wood and Jose Petaza among others.
Yeah I don’t get that Braves trade at all. Total wash for their organization.
Tigers looking in great shape for next year. Still have a top offense, some nice young pitchers with potential, and lots of money coming off the books this offseason. Hopefully they can sign some guys for the rotation and bullpen, maybe even resign Cespedes as well.
Wasn’t Fulmer basically their #1 prospect at this point, if you don’t count Conforto?
Please don’t talk about Brandon Nimmo, he’s had a just awful season this year and has fallen off all lists thanks to his “2 HR 1SB in 75G” line.
Number 6, number 4 if you don’t count Conforto and Matz
After Matz, Fulmer was their best starter prospect and Cessa was their most advanced.
Definitely not. Dom Smith, Cecchini, Amed Rosario are all better prospects.
dom smith is not a better prospect. first base only with no in game power shown and lack of patience/ approach.
TF you talking about? lol
Hahaha okay so we can’t talk about Nimmo who has a down year (had an OPS over 800 before his knee injury) but Fulmer is their best prospect with ONE good year after injury prone season after injury prone season?
Get real, man. Nimmo doesn’t lose all his legitimacy because of one year, and Fulmer doesn’t completely regain his. Don’t be a hypocrite.
nimmo’s a prospect but was not really a standout one to begin with, not like hes ever been young for his level.
Looks like DD had a plan and executed it.
2 LH Starters, 2 RH Starters. All with potential.
One of each ready very soon.
Any of the 4 could be a reliever the MLB club at least short term.
One bonus SS to replace the losses of Travis/Suarez.
Not sure how a fan could not not be happy with this.
The Price and Cespedes trades were smart.
Soria for an A ball shortstop with minimal baseball skills was dumb. We don’t need a shortstop with Iggy and Manchado. He projects to be a good major league utility player. Great. We still had a shot at the playoffs with Soria, even after losing Price and Cespedes. Not anymore.
I think DD is looking at his overall athletic abilities and see multi-position possibilities. Has some pop in his bat and needs to learn to cut down on strikeouts.
So, we give up a shot at the playoffs for that? Possible 2018 utility help?
Detroit now has Norris and Fulmer joining Lobstein and Green(once he gets his mechanics right) as possible #4 & #5 starters in 2016. Greene could be a #3. Boyd is a dark horse to also contribute in 2016. Labourt and Cessa add much needed depth.
Add Jones with a combination of power, speed, and athletic multi- position skills. He could fit in on the Major League roster in 2017-18.
All in all a good return for our FA, who are still available to join the Tigers in 2016!
3 LH starters!
Wow, that Porcello trade ended up being highway robbery. Not only did we get two solid pitching prospects, but also our new closer with Soria gone, Alex Wilson. Out of all the moves Cherington made last offseason, that was probably the dumbest. Giving him $20 mil per year might’ve been even worse though.
Kinda like when the Tigers traded for Miggy, and then signed Dontrell to a long term before even getting to spring training. Think how good that trade would have looked if they had not signed Willis.
Solid trade for both. Why are people saying the Mets got robbed? Sure, it’s a rental but Fulmer was behind a decent list of 3 pitchers and the Mets needed to make a move for their playoff hopes and for the fans. Both prospects would have had no spot on the team given how the rotation is shaping up for future years. Can’t be upset over a couple of minor leaguers and also kept Wheeler. Tigers also did very well, especially if they can sign Cespedes again. Very low risk
Tigers system just a lot better. They picked up players who are now their #1, 5, 8, 9, 13 and 15 in their system according to the MLB website.
Possible multi contributors to 2016.
I figured he’d go to the Mets, his contract is perfect for it. He has to be released after the season, and unless an extension is released before then(doubt it), the team that releases him cannot sign him in free agency. I think. They will pay him for two months and bye, and don’t have to take the heat from Mets fans for not pursuing him in FA. Ha. I could very well be wrong but don’t think so. Still if I were a Mets fan, I’d be pumped to have this guy on the team.
Overall, love what Dombrowski and the Tigers have done. I am disappointed they didn’t get Dario Alvarez in this deal. The Tigers bullpen still stinks, and a power lefty reliever would have been a nice addition. The rotation is now looking like it will have options. I guess the bullpen will have to be addressed in the offseason.