Yoenis Cespedes: Re-signs with Mets

As first reported by FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal, the New York Mets re-signed free agent outfielder Yoenis Cespedes to a three-year $75 million deal on Friday evening. Cespedes gets an opt-out clause after the first year of the deal as well as a full no-trade clause. In the midst of the Mets and Nationals battle to land the Cuban outfielder, Cespedes’ agent called the Yankees to see if they would jump into the mix and make an offer; likely the one the Mets made for three years.

It’s a telling trend about the state of the Nationals, and the Cespedes coup has to be even more bitter given the role he played in lifting the Mets to the top of the NL East previous year.

Cespedes has went on record saying he truly loved playing in NY, but has also expressed the desire to make money this off-season.

But as resilient and resourceful as the Mets were in getting to the World Series, they displayed those same characteristics this winter. There has been plenty of howling over the Mets’ business plan in recent years, and deservedly so, given their decidedly small-market approach to operating in the sport’s biggest, most expensive market.

Cespedes started last season with the Detroit Tigers before he was traded to the Mets just minutes before the trade deadline, according to ESPN.

Back in New York, Cespedes figures to resume his role as the Mets’ cleanup hitter and center fielder.

Cespedes hit for. 291 this season, the second highest in his career, as well as knocking in 105 RBIs and 35 homeruns, both of which were career highs for Cespedes. For much of his career, he has been good for about 25 home runs per year but now that he is just at about the age where players peak, perhaps it’s closer to 30 now.

Cespedes, who is from Cuba, debuted in the majors in 2012 with the Oakland Athletics. Juan Lagares figures to be in line to spell Cespedes on occasion when there’s a late-inning lead.

Cespedes will continue to hit some loonngg ding dong Johnson’s with the Mets in 2016.

While they could lose Cespedes after one season, they will have a deep lineup in 2016 while they attempt to win back-to-back division titles, and it keeps the Nationals from fortifying their roster.