3:57pm: Cespedes’ agents (he is represented by Roc Nation/CAA Sports) were the ones to initiate discussions about amending the clause, tweets Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News. As she rightly points out, having his current club involved in offseason bidding can only serve to increase Cespedes’ ultimate price tag.
3:13pm: The Mets have agreed with recently-acquired outfielder Yoenis Cespedes to a modification of the language in his contract that will remove a previous barrier to the team’s ability to re-sign him as a free agent, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.
Previously, the contract called for the employing team (originally, the Athletics) to release him at the expiration of the contract. That would have made Cespedes ineligible for a qualifying offer and would have left his current team with just five days to reach a new agreement upon completion of the World Series. Following that five-day window, the Mets would’ve been ineligible to sign Cespedes until May 15, 2016 under the rules of the collective bargaining agreement. (Put concisely, teams cannot re-sign players they released to a Major League deal until the following May.) In that scenario, Cespedes would not have been able to test his market before negotiating with the Mets, making an agreement difficult to work out.
Under the new agreement, Cespedes will be free to sign with the Mets at any point in the offseason, just as he would any other team. It provides him another possible suitor while leaving the team free to re-sign him on the open market.
While the qualifying offer issue may have posed a barrier to reaching such an arrangement between Cespedes and his most recent team, the Tigers, that is no longer an issue. Because Cespedes was traded in mid-season, the Mets are unable to utilize that rule regardless.
In other words, as things stood, the modification appears to be a win-win for player and team. While neither is any more obligated to the other than was the case previously, it is now certainly feasible for New York to pursue a long-term deal with a player who has delivered outstanding results since coming over at the deadline.
This would be an awesome get if they can pull it off.
I agree. This gives them the DH they’ve been sorely missing.
While I still don’t expect them to sign him (esp. if he wants more than five years, which he surely does), this is an excellent move by the Mets. At a minimum, it looks like the Mets are at least trying to stay competitive in the free agent market, something they haven’t really done in at least 7 or so years.
It’s also a no-brainer for Cespedes as it puts another team in play to help inflate his offers.
Could you explain how this is a win for the Mets. It seems like they are putting themselves at a disadvantage for resigning Cespedes.
They previously would’ve had only five days to re-sign him following the playoffs. Now, they still have that exclusive five-day window but also the entire offseason.
Got it thanks. I didn’t realize that before they couldn’t resign him after the five days.
How is it a disadvantage? If they can’t re-sign him in those 5 days, they cannot sign him period.
Kudos to Cespedes and his agent for making this concession during the pennant race…As a life long Mets fan it has been equally 1) awesome to watch Cespedes’ thrilling stretch run, and 2) agonizing to think we have no shot of re-signing him next year.
This move, by an agent, is the inverse to the a** clown Scott Boras whose temper tantrum re: Harvey coincided with a deflation of the Mets’ on field performance.
Boras would of looked to remove that language as well, gimmie a break, its just an agent doing his best to get the most possible suitors for his client. This isn’t some amazing thing that happened cause Cespedes and his agent are making a “concession” this is only to help Cespedes get more $, by letting the Mets stay at the party past their 5 day window.
Boras had every opportunity to keep his conversations between the Mets front office, himself, and his client. Instead, he chose to air his dirty laundry in front of the ravenous NY press corp in an attempt to create leverage. It backfired entirely, hurting the franchise and Matt Harvey.
How exactly did he hurt the franchise and Matt Harvey? Please elaborate and how exactly does that relate that Roc nation is the opposite? As a New York fan you might recall that’s the awesome agency that pushed for Cano to leave town…
He made a big hub-bub over Kris Bryant earlier in the year at the Cubs, guess what??? Cubs and Kris Bryant are doing fine. As will the Mets and Matt Harvey.
My point is that Boras could have just as easily kept his opinions on his client’s workload between himself, Matt Harvey, the physicians who have examined Matt Harvey, and the Mets front office. He hurt Matt Harvey’s reputation by dragging this in front of the NY media. He hurt the Mets club by feeding the NY news cycle for several days. Agents are best when they work behind the scenes, and are bothersome when they are visible and make their opinions known to the general public through the media.
Well since Boras is clearly the most successful agent in Baseball I respectfully disagree with your opinions. As does his players, someone has to look out for them and Boras does, and as a fan of the game I’m glad he calls out the BS that front offices like to dish to the fans.
I wouldn’t call it a “concession.” It gives Cespedes one more offseason suitor and comes with exactly 0 disadvantages.
Cespedes and his agent didn’t make any concession here, because they didn’t give anything up. The 5 day window wasn’t something they inserted as a negotiating tactic; it was a requirement of the CBA. You can’t write into a contract that the team is unable to extend a qualifying offer (which is what this provision is intending to accomplish), as that is not allowed under the CBA. Instead you have to require the player be released (which is an allowable contract term under the CBA) and it is the release that results in the 5 day window coming into effect. Once Cespdes was traded mid-season he could no longer be extended a qualifying offer anyway, so the release provision no longer had any value to him at all. So by no longer requiring the Mets to release him the 5 day window no longer applies and Cespedes still doesn’t have to worry about a qualifying offer. So he didn’t make a “concession to the Mets and Mets fans” because he didn’t actually give up anything.
Thank you for clarifying. I find Cespedes’ contract situation confusing to say the least! I know some team will give him the years and numbers he is seeking. Having watched him during the stretch run with the Mets, it is clear he is transformative to a lineup. He has physical gifts I’ve only seen in a handful of players and features much more refinement than others (i.e., Bo Jackson) who were similarly graced.
Thanks for explaining why this would not have worked for the Tigers. I am still seeing him as a possible option for Detroit next year. I think they could fit him in the budget easier than the Mets.
Why would he want to leave NY to sign with a last place team?
For the right price, I would think that Cespedes would go anywhere. Also, and I say this even loving New York and the Mets, but the Harvey situation last week has shown once again that something as simple as a comment can have the entire NY media and fanbase torching you.
As a “life long Mets fan” you are well aware how quickly it can fall apart.Detroit won 4 division titles in a row and have been hit by injuries in 2015. They expect to compete in 2016 and have a large Latino presence in the clubhouse. Cespedes was very comfortable there and would be in 2016 and beyond.
Ask Robbie Cano of Roc Nation Sports, same agency as Cespedes.
It’s interesting but the real winner of that clause is the Tigers. They got Wilson to cover the “no QO” part of the deal with Boston and if the Mets lose the bidding war, no QO beacuse of the trade. It could have also played into the reason to deal him and get Fulmer and Cessa.Tigers could bid on him while the Mets could not( at the time). Detroit can still be the winner of a bidding war and get Cespedes too.
Hope to see him back on the Mets. They can’t afford to lose a middle of the lineup bat that they’ve needed for years now.
5 years $100 million or too low? Might take 7 years
I’d say very low. I’m expecting him to blow well past Choo’s seven-year, $130MM deal.
At Least 7 Probably 8 Years , Time for Mets Mtg to Put their Money where their Mouths Are , But don’t count on it !
As of right now, even with all of the other big time names that are going to be in the FA pool, i think Cespedes is going to be as desirable as anyone. He won’t command a 10 year deal and GMs will love that about him. He’s also showed the past 2 seasons that he heats up down the stretch. What with offense so hard to come by now, seemingly, he’ll have many knocks on his door.
The list will be long in inquiries about his services.
I think Yoenis Cespedes has found a home in the Met’s organization and predict he resigns with them.
If they offer the top dollar, Roc Nation sports is still trying to show everyone how big their di.. is.
They did the NBA thing with Cano – get him the money with a team he should’t be playing with, then demand a trade.
Tigers made two solid trades with Cespedes.
They traded Porcello for Yo AND got Wilson as the “No Qualifying Offer” compensation. Wilson is their best current relief pitcher.
Then they got Fulmer and Cessa for Cespedes.
Bottom line, they got Cespedes’s production for 1/2 the year and three solid pieces AND they can bid on him again in the offseason.
8 Years at 20/22 Million aYear , Mets are nuts if they do . Dodgers Will ,and Maybe Yankees,Cubs Too !
No room on Dodgers or yankees for him. Maybe Cubs but why would anyone go play there?
Excellent news! The Mets need a DH.