Yoenis Cespedes and the New York Mets have come to an agreement on a three-year, $75 million deal to bring the right-handed hitting outfielder back to the Big Apple, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network.
The 30-year-old has tied the all-time record for an outfielder with an average annual value of $25 million. He has an opt-out clause after the first season, which Cespedes will make $27.5 million. Do not be surprised if Cespedes finds free agency next winter.
Cespedes will take over in left field, leaving Curtis Granderson in right field and a mixture of Juan Lagares, Michael Conforto and Alejandro De Aza at the center field position. It should be Largaras getting most of the looks in center, but things could change in New York. Nevertheless, Cespedes is a huge addition to the defense and offensive side of the game for the Mets.
"He works very hard to be a good teammate," New York manager Terry Collins said. "Even though he doesn't speak a lot of English, he works very, very hard at it.
"His pregame routine is off the charts ... off the charts. He has things that he does right before a game in the batting cage. ... When he walks onto that field, he's legit.
"I've been around a lot of great players. I've seen a lot of great players. This guy, just strictly tools, the five tools, he's got them all."
After being a star in Cuba, Cespedes was signed by the Oakland Athletics as a free agent in 2012. He was traded from the Athletics to the Boston Red Sox at the 2014 trade deadline, then traded from the Red Sox to Detroit Tigers last offseason, and then the Tigers sent the Cuban to the Mets at the 2015 trade deadline.
Over his four-year career, the 30-year-old has hit .271/.319/.486 with 609 hits, 124 doubles, 21 triples, 106 home runs, 367 RBI and 37 bases with the Athletics, Red Sox, Tigers and Mets across 575 games played at the major league level.
Cespedes is coming of a career-year which he hit .291 with 35 home runs, six triples and 105 RBI in 159 games for the Tigers and Mets.
The future is bring for Cespedes and the Mets because of the offense, defense and pitching staff. The team has the potential to return to the World Series, but only time will tell.