While the Nationals are said to have made a five-year contract offer to Yoenis Cespedes, ESPN’s Buster Olney reports that the Mets are now discussing a three-year contract which would include an opt-out provision after the first year of the deal (Twitter link). Olney also tweets that the expectation among some involved in the discussions is that Cespedes will make a decision within 24 to 48 hours.
A three-year deal with an opt-out next winter would represent somewhat of a compromise between the two sides, as the Mets have long been said to have interest in Cespedes, but only on a short-term deal. FOX’s Ken Rosenthal wrote last night that Cespedes prefers to return to New York, although the team’s previously reported maximum contract length of three years was well shy of the division-rival Nationals’ reported five-year pact. Adding an opt-out provision to the three-year scenario for the Mets, however, would allow Cespedes the opportunity to test the open market again next winter while giving him some financial security should things head south in 2016 (either due to injury or poor performance). A three-year deal with an opt-out after 2016 would, in some ways, be a modernized form of the traditional one-year “pillow contract” — a concept I explored two weeks ago in the MLBTR Newsletter and discussed at length on last week’s MLBTR Podcast with Jeff Todd.
Specific parameters on the three-year/opt-out scenario being discussed have yet to be reported (perhaps because they’re not yet set in stone), but rejecting a five-year offer worth around $100MM (and possibly a bit more) would certainly be a risky play for Cespedes, who is already coming off a career year in which he batted .291/.328/.542 with 35 home runs. Next winter, he’d be entering his age-31 season, which could potentially limit a team’s willingness to commit to him on a long-term deal, as they’d be receiving less of his prime than they would by signing him this offseason. Cespedes and his representatives have to assume that he would be subject to a qualifying offer next offseason as well — another potentially detrimental component with which he did not have to contend this offseason. Then again, next winter’s free-agent class is considerably worse than the crop of free agents we saw in 2015-16, and if Cespedes approaches his 2015 numbers, he’d be one of the top two or three free agents available.
Suffice it to say, Cespedes and his agents have a number of factors to consider when determining which scenario is in his best interest. It also remains possible, albeit perhaps unlikely, that a dark-horse team will emerge and give Cespedes a stronger offer than the one he’s currently received from the Nationals. The Orioles were previously said to have interest in Cespedes on a five-year deal, although that was prior to the team’s signing of Chris Davis. The White Sox and Braves have both been connected to Cespedes as well, albeit on shorter-term deals (which, presumably, did not include opt-out clauses such as the one the Mets are now said to be considering).
I’m pretty amazed at how much criticism this guy’s character has taken over the past few weeks. It feels totally unwarranted.
The mere fact that he’s still listening to what the Mets have to say is saying A LOT. Tons of athletes would have taken the Nats’ money in a heartbeat.
I really hope the Mets can pull this one out.
For sure its pretty respectable that Ces is considering taking less money, but let’s be honest. It has a lot more to do with the fact that he thinks he’s worth more that 5years, 100million. If he’s considering the Met’s deal, it’s because he wants another shot at free agency next year.
I don’t mean that as a criticism, but let’s not get crazy and canonize the guy. This would be a business decision above all else.
He’s been on too many teams in only 2 years, I’m guessing that is why he. Was the last outfielder taken, awesome player for sure, but I question his attitude in the clubhouse.
I have read a lot about his attitude and coach ability or lack there of over his career but I also think social media has made it out to be more then it really is. (One of many down falls of social media)
W/ that said he was traded to Bawston so Oak could get an Ace SP for the stretch run. He was then flipped by Bawston to Detroit in that off season to replace the SP…Detroit had a choice either lose him for nothing or flip for multiple players. Had they been in contention YC would have stayed in Detroit. (I believe)
None of this has to do w/ his attitude. It has to do w/ his contract that stated he would be granted Free Agency at seasons end(before QO’s could be handed out)
It also shows that Mr. Illitch was having the Tigers negotiate with him as well as Upton, right up till the signing. That wouldn’t have happened if he was a problem. Tigers just needed more OBA.
It absolutely is unwarranted and is simple casual racism in that Puig = character flaw, therefore any Cuban player = character flaw.
Cespedes mother taught him the game. She is in the Cuban HOF for softball, there is absolutely no way he’d disrespect the game in any way. His trades all make sense in that they had nothing to do with him personally.
Literally the only thing Cespedes does that could even be considered disrespectful are his purposeful bobbles in the OF to deke the runner into trying to get an extra base, which he promptly will gun down with one his biggest assets, his cannon arm, 9 times out of 10. That’s good strategy though, as it turns a hit into an out.
I agree with much of what you said but not really seeing the racism angle at all. I haven’t heard anything like this about any other Cuban players aside from those two so I just don’t see the connection. I think it’s more of the perception of a player’s style and has nothing to do with where he’s from. Just my opinion.
Puig, Cespedes, Chapman, Arruebarrena, Escobar
How is questioning Chapman’s character a race thing? I think he’s done plenty (or at least has been accused of doing plenty) to jeopardize his character.
That would mean that all Americans who are accused of domestic abuse are problems? Him allegedly abusing his g/f has ZERO to do w/ being Cuban or race for that matter…
Ok true. But all those guys have done things to put their names out there in a negative way. I don’t see them as Cubans, I see them as players. You can group anybody together for any number of reasons and try to draw parallels. Racism has nothing to do with this.
Purposeful bobbles, like the one that lead to the world series-beginning inside the park hr?
There’s no racism here at all. Cespedes has a rep as a complainer and a prima donna, who doesn’t handle his (frequent) slumps well, as do many white players.
Not all Cuban players are being called bad attitude players
Abreu good
Kendrys good
Going back to Levon and Orlando not attitude problems
Even Chapman is only taking flack b/c of the alleged domestic abuse other then that he’s been a good attitude player
Being from LA Puig has a problem w/ his attitude but I don’t think it’s b/c of his nationality….look at Papplebon HUGE attitude problem and he’s not Cuban.
Too often media likes to play the race card when it’s unwarranted b/c they know they will get clicks/views/attention stir the pot…
I can’t believe I am the first to point out Cuban is his nationality, not his race.
Unwarranted? I was waiting for the boy to cry wolf and here you are.
nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/mets-cespedes…
Sure, it’s apart of his routine but he disappeared after injuring his arm reportedly playing golf in the very games he was traded for to have the most impact.
I think this alone speaks to his immaturity and has nothing to do with his race.
Really, you think this has something to do with Puig? (Kinda racist of you) I think it has to do with his asking price, period.
Noah Syndergaard wants him back and that’s good enough for me.
nypost.com/2015/12/18/syndergaard-wants-cespedes-b…
ITS THE METS THAT ARE PUTTING THAT OUT! HEDGING THEIR BET.
3 things, 1- he didn’t take BP (which is a lie confirmed by Wright, 2- He didn’t hustle, that’s very subjective, and when he dogged it was in not bang-bang plays or in high pressure close game situations. 3- THE FUNNIEST, ‘”he smokes heaters between innings”. SERIOUSLY?
Where was Keith Hernandez after he made the first out of the 10th inning of game 6 of the World Series in 86? How about Ricky Henderson playing cards during the game 5 of the Subway Series and Yankee clincher in 2000?
The guy can play ball, he is a rare 5 tool player, like the ones the Mets claimed they had in the wings- Alex Ochoa, Terrance Long, Lastings Milledge, Alex Escobar……….how did those guys do?
The goal is WINS. The Mets are a “moneyball” culture, so they are looking at the WAR between Cespedes and Lagares, and that could be the difference in winning or losing the division. IT WAS LAST YEAR, and 3-4 years IS THE SOFT SPOT where they can SPEND while the “Billion Dollar Rotation” are 5+ years from free agency and they will maybe sign 3, would guess deGrom, Syndergaard and Matz. Maybe Wheeler, but Harvey will not be a Met in 4 years so WIN AS MANY TITLES AS YOU CAN NOW as d’Arnaud, Conforto, Familia, and hopefully Duda will get even better and be in their primes while at the end Wright will be done, Grandy done in 2 years,
Even with a weaker FA class after this season, it is hard to imagine that Cespedes can be in a stronger bargaining position for a long term deal than he is in right now. Unless Nats offer is below market, take the 5 year deal.
It’s not unthinkable to sign a 31 yr old slugger to a long-term deal. It’s happened plenty, and if he can perform anywhere NEAR as well as he did with the Mets last year…..No way he repeats that feat, but if he just slashes his 1st half numbers from last year: .293/.323/.506/.829 over the course of the whole season, and finishes with 30+ HR’s / 90+ RBI’s……..He shouldn’t have any trouble getting another 5/$100 contract from someone…..
Maybe the Angels, since they’ll just have one more year of that ridiculous Hamilton Salary to pay off…..Angel Fans???
Exactly this, plus next off season, you are likely going to have more clubs who are traditionally big spenders (i.e. Yankees, Rangers, Angels) participating in free agency. Its certainly a roll of the dice for Cespedes but personally I would want & appreciate a player who is willing to bet on himself. Which is exactly what he would be doing should he take the rumored 3 year deal with 1 year player option.
Braves also might entertain signing him to a large deal at least AAV wise if he produces and opts out
Angels will still be strapped financially next off season b/c they will still be too close to the unbreakable $189m
If the Mets don’t make this signing it is completely on them. Cespedes clearly wants to be a Met. I almost feel the Mets HAVE to sign him now. Can you imagine the PR backlash now if they do not?
Especially if he ends up signing with the Yankees or Nationals.
I totally agree with you, there has to be more teams involved or a deal would have been done by now
It could be that all offers are for less than he wants, and Roc Nation believes he can get. That could be holding things .up.
Why would he take this deal? Unless it’s 30m per year, I see no reason to choose a 3 year pact versus a 5 year one which guarantees more money.
The risk doesn’t justify the reward.
Why would it need to be $30M AAV? The Nats offer is at best $21M AAV and probably an even less present day value than $100-105 because there’s almost certainly some deferral $ in that total.
If he got a 3/$75-80M from the Mets with a 2nd year opt out, he sees a bigger pay day for 2016, and if he rakes….he can go back out on the market again next year in a weaker FA class.
Then there’s the whole point about him really liking NY.
I can see a way this could work rather easily.
It’s always easy for fans to say “It’s easy to leave $20-30 million on the table”. I doubt anyone makes that decision easily in real life.
If the Mets can get him at 3 years and closer to $20 million per season, good on them. But that doesn’t mean that scenario is likely when a $100+ million offer for 5 years is on the table. What makes it likely is evening up the money. A $75 million offer isn’t really worth discussing when $100+ million sits out there. You’re probably looking at closer to $90 if he’s at the negotiating table. Just common sense.
Ah, but you’ve left out the most important part……
If he signs a 5 year deal, that’s his last one, probably. If he signs a 3 year deal, he could probably sign another 3-4 year deal later. Not guaranteed, but when discussing the “decision to leave money on the table”, you have to include the possibility that he can earn THAT money anyway….possibly more, if salaries keep escalating, by leaving himself time to sign another deal later…….Right?
There is also a flip side. He could take this 3 year deal and get injured or decline to the point where he will not be offered another big money deal. If you want to talk about possibilities, then let’s talk about both sides.
He’s going to be 35 in three years. He’s not signing another 3-4 year deal. At least not unless a ton of stuff goes right for him and his body.
That kind of suggestion is exactly why you can’t take fan opinions seriously when it comes to money.
Explain how a 30 yr old will be 35 in 3 years please.
? Cespedes turned 30 in Oct; 3 year deal pays him through age 32 season
Explain how a 30 yr old will be 35 in three years please.
Typo. The point is still exactly the same.
3year deal plus another 3-4 year deal is 6-7 years. why would 5 year deal be his last?
Because in 3 years, no deals are really guaranteed. As a player moves into his 30’s, every year increases the chances that it’s his last. Getting paid for more of them up front is what every player at his age tries to do, because the odds are 3 years from now he wouldn’t be worth a multi-million dollar major league contract.
But look at how these opt out clauses work from the player’s point of view: he tanks and collects the full contract over 3 years or he replicated or improves on his 2015 and the signing team can either negotiate a sizable extension of he gets to go out at be the proven top talent OF in a weak OF market next off-season. Look how well the opt-out worked for A-Roid several years ago.
Yes, sure, if everything works his way… but that’s where the risk comes in. Things could NOT work his way and he gets a minor league deal after this contract. Then he just lost out on a lot of money. Money that he is getting guaranteed right now by taking the other deal. And what’s the best case scenario? Based on his age, how much can he actually make more than the 100m the Nats are giving him right now? Like 30m more? Which brings me back to my original comment: the risk does not justify the reward.
The Nats offer also (supposedly) includes deferred money, which discounts the actual total value of the contract. There are also more unique opportunities in NYC that don’t exist in WAS, such as fashion/lifestyle brands and more major advertising agencies. Ces isn’t just a baseball player…he is a brand, or at least could be if he plays his cards right. The fact he has gotten a taste of NYC and liked/loved it doesn’t hurt either. DC is a *very* different city and local culture than NYC. I really hope Ces goes to the Mets bc I think it is the right move for *both* sides.
Good points.
While New York does have opportunities, the Mets don’t offer nearly as many as the Yankees. In truth, the outside benefits of being a Met aren’t that much different that another big city like DC.
sometimes money isn’t everything. maybe he likes playing for the mets and wants to be happy. he doesn’t know what playing for the nationals would be like. for me, i’ve taken jobs for less money vs. the big payday, for happiness, in where and what i would be doing
Really, it’s probably because the Mets were just in the series. But I doubt that leads to a 3 year deal. He’s going to use that Nats deal to see if the Mets budge. My money is still on him getting 5 or 6 years.
He likes any city that has a team that will offer a contract. He was liking Detroit right up until they signed Upton.
The deal would have to have a 1 year opt out for him to re-enter next year. A two year opt out has him at 32 trying to get a 5 year deal.(not going to get it) He would be better off taking the 5 year now if it is an opt out in 2 years.
Maybe because the contract includes a “don’t get choked by your closer” clause too.
Cespedes wanted a 6 year deal. If he takes a 5 yr, he’s finished after that. If he takes a 3 yr deal w/opt-out after 1, and has a solid 2016 campaign……and with the FA class pretty weak next winter……He could cash in next winter. Several teams have 2016 roadblocks that will be somewhat cleared for 2017…..more opportunity, less competition. That’s all IF he performs at a high level. If he tanks……he’ll be a Met for 3 years….and lose a bunch of money.
That being said…….if he just played 1 more year and got hurt…..and got $27 million to play that one year…..he’s rich. Most people don’t make $300K/year. If they made $300K/yr for their entire career (typically about 40 years), that’s a Total Lifetime Earnings of ……..$12 Million………….over 40 years. Know anyone making 300K?…..not many people do. These guys make a ton of money for a short time……..If he decides to “Play where he wants to” instead of where the money is best……..”I APPLAUD HIM”…….
But why are you comparing a baseball player to “most people?” It’s apples to oranges, really. The amount he would be leaving on the table if he was to get injured would be astronomical for “most people” also. So it works both ways.. but it’s a pretty poor comparison.
That’s not a valid argument…..It’s like saying that “90 mph isn’t Fast if the speed limit is 70″……..Money is money…….it spends the same everywhere…from anyone’s pocket. I’m just using “most people” to bring this into perspective.
The difference between a $60,000/year job and a $100,000/year job would change someone’s life drastically. The difference between $60 mil and $100 mil changes his grandchildren’s life.
Just curious…….Are you a Nats Fan? Mets fan? I am not partial to either……..just a baseball fan.
Me too 😉
But it is still relative, isn’t it? 60k to 100k for an accountant is the same as 60m to 100m to an athlete. You’re focusing on what he is earning rather than what he is leaving. You have to look at it both ways. If you told an accountant to leave 40k on the table every year… he would have a hard time doing it. Sure someone can survive on a 60k income, but that extra 40k would be hard to pass up. Same situation here.
btw, I’m a Yankees fan, but I root for New York. I would like to see Ces back in NY, but the Mets are not offering him the best deal.
@east – you clearly do not understand about large amounts of money.
If “your” accountant left 40k per year on the table and retired after his 5 year contract, what would life be like in regards to bills, cars, accommodations, etc ?
Now I ask you to compare the above to leaving $40,000,000 on the table.
Is an athlete worried about ANYTHING ?
Your comparison is useless. When someone can bank $60,000,000, they should be worried about happiness. Sadly, these idiots holding out for an extra $10,000,000 on a $120,000,000 just don’t get what life is about.
the extra money won’t make you happy. but it’s the market place and every player wants to feel he’s as worthy as someone else of equal ability. they’re competitive people or they wouldn’t be where they are! is Pujols happier living in southern cal making an extra 40 million dollars than he would have gotten in STL? I don’t know. But it’s EZ for others to say “hey, you’re already rich, why do you need more?”
@lance – I respect what you are writing and it is, in most situations, true. My point or points is that there is zero comparison between a working joe leaving $40K a year on the table for 5 years vs a player who has or is going to make $100’s of MILLIONS of dollars over his career leaving $40 million on the table in one contract in order that he plays in a happy environment.
The sports figure is set for life, the working joe is just that, a working joe. .
tuna411, the only real comparison is about human nature. working joe earning $40k a year would hate to know the guy working right beside him and is no better at his job is earning significantly more money than joe. i doubt Cespedes would be happy taking a lot less money/years than Upton and some of the others. ego is something that cannot be discounted. yes, i know there are other factors but I suspect Yoenis looks at Upton’s contract and thinks: “hey, I’m better than him cause I had a much better year”
Its an appropriate comparison because until he left Cuba, what was his potential earnings. He probably is seeing more money than he ever dreamed.
If he were smart and loves NY, he would take the 3 year, opt out after 1 deal with the Mets. Yankees have Beltran and Texiera’s $38M coming off the books after 2016.
Teams should only be offering opt out clauses if it works both ways.
Its called a mutual option
the market decides that.
I just earned more respect for the man just in the fact that he would consider coming back to the Mets. I think he’ll be able to live in reasonable comfort whatever he chooses. Loyalty is a thing.
Agree……I guess he may have more “character” than the reports indicate?…..LOL
Loyalty absolutely is not a thing in baseball in 2016.
True…….and isn’t that just a Damn Shame?……..Yup
loyalty has never been a consideration. teams in the past didn’t think twice about trading or cutting a player if they thought they could get someone better. Great players like Mays, Aaron, Spahn, Frank Robinson, Jackie Robinson, were traded away. Where was the “loyalty” then? The only difference is now the players have some choice. In the past, teams basically shoved a contract under their faces and said, “sign this contract or go shovel coal.”
which team was jackie robinson traded to?
in dec 1956, the dodgers traded jackie to the NY giants for dick littlefield and cash. rather than go, robinson decided instead to retire and the deal was dead. but so much for dodgers “loyalty.”
I bet he’s just doing this to get the nats to offer more money.
I don’t think so…….I think he truly enjoyed his time with the Mets. He eliminated that clause in his contract AFTER he was traded to the Mets, and had played there for a month or so. He did that so he COULD re-sign with the Mets! if he doesn’t initiate that conversation (and from every report that I read, He did), and remove that clause, the Mets don’t get to bid on him at all!!! Clearly shows that he had (at least) some interest in coming back there……don’t you think?
He said he enjoyed his time with the Tigers also.
Once he was traded, he was no longer eligible to be offered a QO. That made the clause in his contract unimportant to his desire to be unrestricted in his free agency. The only thing the clause did, was eliminate a potential suitor, be it because he actually wanted to play there, or just wanted as many teams bidding up the price as possible. I’m guessing the latter. which is why HE brought up removing it, not the Mets.
Once again, the White Sox miss out on something big by cheaping out. If you gonna rebuild, fine…year it all down and start right. But this ‘rebuild on the fly stuff’ don’t work unless you spend some money.
*TEAR it all down…
I don’t think the White Sox should be looking to commit 5 years to Cespedes right now. The team may very well be forced into a fire sale if they do not perform this season and having his contract on the books inhibits that. Signing Cespedes essentially would max out the white sox payroll and hurt their ability to improve other parts of the club. His low on base percentage frightens me because he rarely walks
Not signing Cespedes is the act that forces the fire sale. Chicken and egg. You can’t say “I won’t sign Cespedes because we might be forced to rebuild”. It’s either sign Cespedes or rebuild. There’s no in between.
And before the fans say “but they improved everywhere”, it’s not about that. They’re simply the fifth most talented team in that division, a division that is getting better, and probably the 10th or 11th most talented team in the AL. Even after all their moves. They got closer to competing, sure. But this team as constructed in the league and division they are in probably still wins about 74 games. It’s the competition, not the team. Put them in the NL and they’ll challenge for a wild card spot. But they’re terrible compared to almost every AL team.
Cespedes would change the dynamic of that lineup and defense. Really, he’s their only chance at competing. If they weren’t willing to go 6 years on him or Upton, they should have traded Sale, Abreu, and everyone else already. Why worry about fans? They’re already losing them all to the Cubs. Another 70 win season isn’t going to stop that, might as well rebuild.
I have been saying the White Sox should be offering Cespedes a three year deal with two opt out years (4th and 5th year with some sort of buy out) but it appears the Sox are too busy ogling lesser OFs to want to get a star.
Or they have an expensive FA still in LF and a guy who’s like 23 in RF.
And 2 VERY LARGE contracts off the books next year
You mean the 24 yr old Garcia AKA Joe Borchard 2.0? Getting Cespedes means you move Cabrera to RF, or even DH, which solves the DH ‘problem’ in LaDunn. As for Garcia, if it were me, he would have the threat of AA in his future if he does not start upping his production (I believe he still has an option left). You then see if Hawkins can come up and produce. The Sox would not be in this position if they did not move Thompson as part of the Frazier deal. I get you give up something to get something, but then again you bring in Frazier, but fail to upgrade your OF. It sends mixed signals to your fan base. If anything Cespedes should also bring fans into the stands. More than what someone like Austin Jackson or Dexter Fowler is going to anyway.
The White Sox are third in a three team race. That’s what happens when you never give out big contracts and perpetually don’t contend.
3 years with 2 opt out aren’t going to do anything to change that. The Nationals compete every year and their ownership is committed to spending to do it. A player signs there multiple years, they know they’ll compete multiple years.
For the White Sox to sign a marque free agent like Cespedes, they’d need to do 6 guaranteed years. Yeah, it’s an overpay. But they did it to themselves. And this, or a full tear down, are really their only paths to contention.
3 year deal with 4th and 5th year opt outs is a 5 year deal
It’s absolutely insane to me that a team would give up a draft pick and pay $70M to a guy who had a 0.8 fWAR last year and a career 14.8 fWAR over 9 seasons, when Cespedes had a 6.7 fWAR last year, has 15.7 fWAR over 4 seasons and only costs money and doesn’t cost a draft pick.
Why is this even happening? How do Upton and Kennedy get mega deals and Cespedes is still out there??? This makes NO SENSE AT ALL!!!!
I don’t think that’s it. I think Cespedes eventually winds up with the most money.
Cespedes deserves a 6/150 deal and he’d easily be worth that contract. This is Yoenis Cespedes, he’s totally awesome at baseball! Argh I can’t handle how dumb this is that he’s struggling to get paid!!!
I have admit, i love this guy. I would give him 4 years and a opt out after 2 because of his loyalty to stay.
Doesn’t this just depend on the values? The floor is the Met’s “guarantee vs the Nationals offer. If the Nats are $110, and the Mets are, lets, say, 3/66 with a one year opt out, then he has to decide whether he’s willing to risk $44M in guarantees to roll the dice again in a year, hoping he does better than $88/4. But, unless he’s totally healthy and productive, he would really have to do a lot better to make the risk worthwhile.
As for the, “character issues” that have been whispered about…they appear unfounded. However, Ces should be concerned w. the Wilpons’ character issues, as they are well documented both in the press and in the court system. Admittedly that was said mostly tongue-in-cheek, it is worth mentioning bc one set of issues has factual evidence, and the other feels a lot like casual racism (as a prior poster mentioned).
If I was the Nats front office I’d be concerned by his level of dedication to the team. Cespedes is crazy to not take the best offer on the table…
Rip sox .
Welp back to the drawing board
Welp back to the drawing board Sox…
I think everyone has valid points. In this case I don’t think it’s about the money. Look Heyward n Zorb. W Price is was about the money. I really believe he wants to go back to NY. I had him picked for Wash. But now I’d say odds are probably 95% he go to NY. Ny not bending on 3 years so to make it work the opt after one is the only way. I believe he will opt n e way. As far as money he’s not getting 30 mil a year.
I’m betting it be 66 mil at 3 years w opt after 1.
I think if the nationals did get Cespedes, they would have to trade one of the outfielders. And not sure if they could afford to keep Harper and Rendon down the road because they are boras clients.
Sox get Fowler 3 years 48 mil w opt after 2 or 2 years 33 mil
Don’t forget one big factor here: Cespedes is likely using both teams against each other. Which is why you are hearing things like “he loves New York!” He might, he might not. But the design of a leak like that is to get the Nats to increase their offer. “He realllllly loves New York, so you have to pay up to get him to D.C.!” (Remember, Johnny Damon pretty much used to say that every city he signed with was a place he always wanted to be). It is all a negotiating ploy, and getting the media involved is par for the course. The Yankees and the Red Sox used to do things like this (Carl Crawford talking to the Yankees rumors started not long before he signed with the Sox). Taking a smaller deal to stay with the Mets would be interesting, but would still surprise me a bit. The Mets will likely have to go further than they currently are to get him to shun a 5-year guarantee at his age. We shall see.
Really the Mets could go 5 or 6 years. N take a page from Os. Everyone looks at big number. It’s not big number. It’s year number n guarantee. If they signed him for 6 or 8 years for 300 million it wouldn’t matter because if they had mult opt after 3 n backloaded it to were he still made 22 mil or 21 mil a year it matter. U know the Mets will op after 3 unless he turns into a Harper or Trout. Easy done what’s issue.
I’d have a hard time seeing a player, especially one north of 30, take a 3 (or 1 ) year deal as opposed to a 5 year deal. It simply doesn’t make sense. The arguments are what they are…he could be a FA again in a weaker class next year, but there also comes a couple of huge issues with that. First off, he’s coming off his best season. Will he be doing that next year? Secondly, if he opts out of a 3 year deal next year to become a free agent, then the Mets can attach a QO to him, which will harm his market even in a weak class?
Also, playing in D.C. offers advantages (financially) that NY does not. No matter how Ny structures his deal he pays NY taxes. In D.C. non-residents do not pay income taxes so that’s a major advantage.
I think it’s a long-shot that Cespedes signs with the Mets unless they front-load the contract and give him an opt-out. If they give him a 3yr/$75M deal with an opt-out after 1 year, but pay $30-$35M the first year (something the Mets likely cannot afford), I still think he goes to the Nationals for 5 years. More guaranteed money.
If he repeats the year, I doubt the QO dampens the value. Only the players that should have thought long and hard about turning down the QO seem to be hampered by it. All the others tend to sign for amounts, like the QO wasn’t even there. Last year was an outlier.
That is a reason to be cautious, as are questions about his actual age, given he is from Cuba.
The Os were smart. Only way they sign Davis. Davis money back loaded n deferred. So they go 161 mil. He makes 17 mil this year. That’s how u do it.
C’mon Ces, sign with Nats
He is a upgrade for Yankees.. Providing adequate defense and a great bat. Mets need him more. But don’t put it past Yankees to make him come to the Bronx
I say he stays with Mets, opts out after one year and Yanks will sign him when Tex and Beltran are off payroll. 2019 comes around and Yankees could possibly have enough off payroll to get Harper.
The Yankees swoop in last minute and grab him. 3 years 70 mil
Na but they can take harper in 2018
Yanks ain’t getting either. It be another 2025 all talk no action lol if u think Harper will be scal in 2018 ur an idiot
there is no way the nationals can afford harper down the road along with rendon being a boras client as well, and all that money they gave to scherzer.
Michaelw, can you translate that insult into English please? After 2016 the Yankees get $38MM off their books (Tex, won’t be back because Bird and Beltran). Coming out of 2018 season when Harper is a FA (generally Boras clients do not avoid FA), CC, McCann (option), Tex, ARod, Beltran, and Headley are all off the books. Five aged out players making a combined $97M freed up. They can have Harper if they want him.
Washington could be in trouble with 10 Boras clients on the roster, 3 in the rotation (Max, Gio, and Strasburg). Only Max is locked down and of the ten only 3 (Werth, Drew, and Perez likely not with team after current contracts.
Opps typo 2016 not 2025 lol
Sounds like Fun……what’s the deal?……LOL
ROFL……WOW!!!…….I can’t even begin to guess how long it took you to figure this all out! There’s a ton of trash trading teams here (in most every package), so I’m going to copy & paste…….and sort it out…so i get a better handle on it.
I love thinking up crazy deals too…….but this one tops anything that I’ve ever been able to come up with……LOL
As many fans might know, Yoenis Cespedes had always been my personal favorite option for the White Sox to sign among the free agent corner outfielders this offseason. It was based on a number of factors including his 6.3 accumulative WAR and the Gold Glove he achieved last season in his walk year, the fact that he had no compensatory draft pick attached to him like the other premium FA’s, along with the comfort factor of him joining the White Sox as another Cuban player who also has a friendly relationship with slugger Jose Abreu. I had also rationalized that Cespedes might prefer to stay in the A.L. and also play in a “hitter-friendly” home park for one of the few times in his career, Boston being the other for a couple months back in 2014.
Recent developments have indicated that Cespedes real preference is to return to the Mets following the extraordinary run he had with them following his July 31st trade from the Tigers, which was arguably the single most important factor for New York reaching the Word Series last year. In addition, an article I had read just a few days ago, southsidesox.com/2016/1/20/10796706/terrerobytes-w… has significantly soured my personal stance on Cespedes joining the White Sox and may have been a cause for concern with the team itself in negotiating a long term contract with the slugger.
The article mentions all the reservations the Mets supposedly had concerning signing Cespedes. And yet, they are the ones rumored (along with Nats) to be trying to work out a deal with him.
That article is chalk full of lies & absolute garbage. This smear campaign that has been orchestrated by some of these clubs (primarily Mets & Sox) towards Cespedes in hopes of driving down his value has been quite a sight to see. Dirty tactic but so far you can’t argue with the results. Read between the lines & understand that most this stuff is total b.s. & given to the media for the sole purpose of gaining some sort of leverage in negotiations. With their subpar owners & limited checkbooks, these are the games clubs like the Mets & Sox have to play to even have a shot at a player of Cespedes’s caliber in free agency. Frankly, I hope neither the Sox & Mets get him because they certainly don’t deserve him.
This is going to be a major chemistry headache for the Mets. They literally just brought in a guy in de Aza to get major playing time in CF, and have Lagares who is being paid big bucks to do same. Now both will be be 4th/5th OF, unless they can find a trade partner for Lagares (which is unlikely, as there are other teams trying to trade CF and two pretty good ones left on the FA market as well). I realize Cespedes is better than both, but don’t underestimate how p.o’ed they’re going to be. Cespedes is also prone to long, dry spells, and is a poor center fielder. This is destined for disaster.
From what I hear, Lagares might need TJ surgery…..still in question I guess (Michael Baron – twitter)…….not that I’d ever wish that on someone, but maybe management knows something that we don’t???……and want to make sure that they are covered. Cespedes is >>> De Aza, even with a few gaffs in the WS. I think they are concerned with Nimmo being ready to come up next year and don’t want to completely block him.
Couple of things:
1. DeAza was going to play against some tough righties, Laggers was always going to be the main CFer.
2. Lagares is making 2.5 million this coming season.
3. Lagares was fine with essentially the same situation last year.
4. Winning cures all ill will…
If he’s talking to the mets about a 3 year deal, why don’t the angels just wake up and give him a deal of 3 years and backload the contract and give an opt out after the second year?
angelsfan……..you know that the only reason that he’ll accept a 3 year deal is because “It’s The Mets” and he liked playing there. It’s an emotional decision, but a bad business decision…..LOL.
If he’s just chasing money……He’ll take the Nats offer of 5/$100++ and run with it.
Why would he want the option of opting out in a year? To go through this all over again, except he’d be another year older? It’s obvious he’s not getting the years he wants because of his age. He’s in for a sharp decline soon and will be no serviceable than a DH after 2018.
Coming next, opt-outs after one month.
It would not surprise me.
Shut up, just shut up…. You had me at 44 players. Hard to see any team, let alone the Braves give up top 3-4 roster players, 4-5 prospects $35MM. But I like how you filled the teams back in. This trade was a nice time consuming thought. Most of my trade scenarios were of 4-5 team to team trades, not genius 5 team trades.
He wants to play for the Mets, but he needs an opt out? He’d go to another team to make more money just like this year.
its his version of “loyalty”-a one year opt out.