Yoenis Cespedes is the top free agent this offseason, but he might not end up going anywhere.
The All-Star left fielder opted out of the final two years and $47.5 million left on his contract with the Mets, but New York is one of four teams in hot pursuit of Cespedes, a source told the New York Post’s Mike Puma. Cespedes reportedly is expected to choose a team some time around the Major League Baseball Winter Meetings, which run from Dec. 4 to Dec. 8.
It’s unknown who the other three teams are at this point, but the San Francisco Giants, Toronto Blue Jays, Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals all have been linked to Cespedes. Mets general manager Sandy Alderson told WOR Radio in New York on Wednesday that Cespedes “has texted the organization and indicated his interest in coming back.”
Cespedes batted .280 in 2016 with 31 home runs and 86 RBIs in 132 games. The Cuba native could easily fetch a $100 million contract, and ESPN’s Jim Bowden projected Cespedes will get a five-year, $129 million deal.
Thumbnail photo via Brad Penner/USA TODAY Sports Images
