Yoenis Cespedes reportedly weighing contrasting options with Orioles, Mets
The Baltimore Orioles have made a contract offer to free-agent outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, according to MASN Sports. But the New York Mets reportedly aren't out of the picture yet.
According to MLB.com, the Orioles' offer is believed to be for five years and $90 million. But MLB.com also reports Cespedes also is considering the possibility of a one-year deal to return to the Mets and then become a free agent again after the 2016 season.
Cespedes, 30, has lasted far longer on the free-agent market that most expected after helping lead the Mets to the NL East title and the World Series last season. In 57 games after his trade from the Detroit Tigers to the Mets, Cespedes hit .287/.337/.604 with 17 homers and 44 RBI. For the entire season, he hit .291/.328/.542 with 35 homers and 105 RBI.
One issue for #Orioles if they go with Cespedes over Davis: Team’s lineup is awfully right-handed. Cespedes only would add to imbalance.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 15, 2016
In his four seasons in the majors -- spent with the Mets, Tigers, Boston Red Sox and Oakland Athletics -- Cespedes has 106 homers and 367 RBI.
The offer to Cespedes is a sign that the Orioles might be growing impatient with free-agent slugger Chris Davis. The first baseman/outfielder led the majors with 47 homers last season, but has yet to accept the Orioles' offer (reported to be worth more than $150 million over seven seasons) to return to Baltimore.
The Orioles and Mets aren't alone in their interest in Cespedes, who would be a nice fit with multiple other clubs, but they are the only teams whose offers have been reported recently.
