Yoenis Cespedes found his way back to the Citi Field outfield Friday, reportedly agreeing to terms on a three-year contract to return to the Mets, per Jon Heyman.
Mets keep Yoenis Cespedes with reported 3-year, $75 million contract
Cespedes reportedly can opt out after the 2016 season to test the free agent market again.
Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images
Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reported the deal is worth 75 million with an opt-out after the 2016 season.
The market for the outfielder heated up in the last week or so, with the Nationals discussing a reported five-year deal and the Mets focusing on a shorter deal with an opt-out clause. The interest in Cespedes even reportedly expanded on Friday night to the ever-popular “mystery team,” per both Heyman and Rosenthal.
The slugger hit .291/.328/.542 with 35 home runs and 42 doubles for the Detroit Tigers and New York Mets in 2015, setting career highs in games (159), doubles, home runs, runs scored (101), RBI (105) and slugging percentage.
Cespedes struggled in the postseason, hitting just .222/.232/.354, but remained one of the most attractive free agents on the market. He was ranked as the eighth-best free agent this offseason in October by our own Grant Brisbee.
The outfielder caught fire after getting acquired by New York at the non-waiver trade deadline on July 31, hitting nearly half (17) of his home runs on the season for the Mets in just 57 games. Cespedes hit .287/.337/.604 for the Mets and drove in 44 runs in 57 games, including eight home runs in an 11-game span to open September.
Cespedes, now 30, fueled a suddenly potent middle of the Mets lineup, helping New York charge forward from hovering around .500 to a 90-win season and the National League East division title, the first playoff appearance for New York in nine seasons. The Mets, who finished the regular season on a 41-24 (.631) clip, kept that going through the National League playoffs, earning their first World Series berth since 2000.
Despite getting traded midseason and spending the final two months of 2015 in the National League, Cespedes won an American League Gold Glove Award, voted as one of the top three defensive outfielders in the junior circuit by league managers and coaches.
Cespedes has been on four different teams in his four major league seasons seasons. The former Cuban defector has hit .271/.319/.486, a 122 OPS+, in his four major league seasons, averaging 26 home runs, 31 doubles and 92 RBI per year while playing for the Oakland Athletics, Boston Red Sox, Tigers and Mets.
See More:
