Based on the latest rumors, there is seemingly a market for outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, who is the best free agent available at this point in the offseason. The New York Mets are one of the teams in contact with the slugger, but they're reportedly unwilling to go beyond three years in any contract offer.
Well, if that's the case, then it's unlikely a deal won't get done between the two sides.
Why? Because Jon Heyman reported both the Baltimore Orioles and Detroit Tigers were willing to give Cespedes a long-term deal. However, the O's re-signed Chris Davis for $161 million and the Tigers opted to bring Justin Upton aboard for $132.75 million. Heyman believes "others will emerge" in the race for Cespedes.
Will it be the Astros? Angels? Rangers? White Sox? Nationals? Mets?
Whoever it may be, they'll need to offer a long-term deal. The market dictates so.
Before Upton signed his six-year deal, previous rumors suggested he might have to sign a one-year deal to further increase his value for next offseason when much less talent will be available. An established 28-year-old All-Star signing a one-year contract to prove himself? Ha, not in today's baseball world where pitchers get $200 million contracts like it's nothing.
Same goes for Cespedes. Do you really think the 30-year-old is going to settle for a one-year or short-term contract? Here are his offensive numbers from his four MLB seasons since coming over from Cuba:
Cespedes from 2012-2015
.271 batting average
334 runs scored
106 home runs
367 RBI
.805 OPS
15.8 WAR
Do those stats warrant a "prove yourself"- type contract? No, they don't, which is why he's waiting until he gets the deal he wants.
Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said yesterday the team "continues to have conversations with Cespedes' agent." The GM didn't reveal anything else, but rumors indicate the Mets "only have been interested" in giving him, at most, a three-year deal, according to FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal.
But Rosenthal has a solution.
"Sign him to a five-year, $120 million contract with a two-year opt-out and a ton of deferred money.
"Cespedes, 30, could claim victory - he would get the long-term security he wants and a higher average annual value ($24 million) than Justin Upton ($22.125M).
"The Mets would win, too - the five-year term is shorter than Cespedes desires, the deferred money would lower the present-day value of the deal and the opt-out would ensure that the outfielder stays motivated."
After all, Cespedes does have some leverage in his quest to get a big contract. As Rosenthal notes, the weakness of next year's free-agent market is working to his advantage. In terms of negotiating with the Mets, all Cespedes needs to do is whip out his 57-game resume with the team during the regular season, during which he hit .287/.337/.604 with 39 runs scored, 17 home runs and 44 RBI. The slugger has also managed to be a mighty presence and game-changer with the Oakland Athletics and Detroit Tigers.
And if you're worried about how the Mets' outfield will look if the team re-signs Cespedes, take a look at what Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com has to say.
Despite the rumors suggesting Cespedes may have to settle for a short-term deal, that just doesn't seem like it's going to be the case after Upton, Alex Gordon and Jason Heyward already cashed in this offseason.
Cespedes reportedly likes New York. The Mets can put an end to this by simply offering him the deal Rosenthal suggested, structure the annual finances so it fits the payroll in subsequent seasons, and continue their quest for a World Series title.
If they don't do it, the division-rival Nationals might. That'll be another addition-by-subtraction move (they already signed Daniel Murphy), as the Cubs flawlessly implemented earlier in the offseason when they signed Heyward and John Lackey away from the St. Louis Cardinals.
And perhaps most importantly: the Mets can't let the Miami Marlins outspend them this offseason, right?
