YOENIS CESPEDES: A MET AGAIN, A YANKEE NEXT YEAR?

Luis Vazquez

January 23, 2016

Decisions, Decisions, oh where to go. These are the thoughts that crossed the mind of Yoenis Cespedes as he mulled offers from the Washington Nationals and Baltimore Orioles. Cespedes, 30, appears to have tired of the nomadic existance he has tolerated since his arrival in MLB from Cuba.

But Cespedes has been marred by circumstance as he has played for four clubs starting with the Oakland A’s in 2013, who traded him to the Boston Red Sox in 2014, who followed by trading him to the Detroit Tigers in 2015. Finally a mid-season trade to the New York Mets jump-started a run that ended in a World Series appearance.

Cespedes accepted a three year offer from the Mets worth 75 million dollars. However, there are a few reasons pointing to a strong possibility that Cespedes could become a New York Yankee in 2017.

The Yankees will have a few contracts off the books next year with Mark Teixeria, Brendon Ryan, and Carlos Beltran in their last seasons. Beltran’s vacancy will open a corner outfield slot as well. The decision to pack 27.5 million in the first year of the deal along with an opt out clause makes one wonder if he really wants to stay long term for the Mets. The Yankees did show interest and after seeing his 17 homers in 57 games along with Gold Glove performance showed that the New York stage does not deter him one bit.

Also take into account what Mets manager Terry Collins said about Cespedes.

“I’ve been around and seen alot of great players,”

Collins explained,

“This guy just strictly, the five tools, he’s got them all.”

The Yankees would not be going any ten year deals, but not adverse to matching his current top-heavy contract, which averages 25 million a year can be absorbed more easily with Alex Rodriguez in 2018 and C.C Sabbathia in 2017, completing their contract terms.

So for Mets fans it appears a World Championship or bust is in order. If the Mets fail to match or improve on last year, Cespedes can fit in just nicely as the Yankees have been in need for a fairly young veteran slugger to complement an emerging new core of talent in the Bronx that is close to blossoming into something special.