MLB Free Agents Rumors: Baltimore Orioles, Chicago White Sox Eyeing Yoenis Cespedes
The market for free agent Yoenis Cespedes is finally developing, as a number of teams are reportedly interested in signing the slugging outfielder. According to several reports, the Baltimore Orioles and the Chicago White Sox are the emerging leaders to get Cespedes' signature.
Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com first reported on Tuesday that the market for the Cuban outfielder is taking shape with Orioles and White Sox the favorites to land him. He added that the Los Angeles Angels, San Francisco Giants, and Texas Rangers are also interested, but there are no indications on when will Cespedes make his decision.
The 30-year-old last played with the New York Mets and according to CBS Sports, the Mets are not interested in bringing him back to New York especially after signing Alejandro De Aza last week. Cespedes is also out of the price range of the Mets because he is reportedly looking for more than $100 million for six years, per MLB.com.
The White Sox are reportedly looking at both Cespedes and Alex Gordon to help their outfield and the lineup as they finished with the fewest runs score, lowest slugging percentage and lowest on-base percentage plus slugging in the American League. Chicago also wants to take advantage of Jose Abreu and Chris Sale's prime to become competitive now while also adding Todd Frazier via trade with the Cincinnati Reds earlier in December.
As for the Orioles, they are still bracing for the potential to lose slugging first baseman Chris Davis via free agency. The two sides have halted their talks and Baltimore is in need of corner outfield positions and a power bat to replace Davis if he leaves. The Orioles have money to offer considering Davis turned down a $157 million deal.
The Angels are in need of a left fielder, but owner Arte Moreno has said that they are not going to sign any big name free agents in the market just like the New York Yankees. The Giants are also in need of insurance at outfield because Angel Pagan and Hunter Pence spent most of last season on the disabled list.
The problem with San Francisco is that they have already spent a lot of money to bring in Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija. They could still sign Cespedes if he considers signing a one-year deal or if his asking price drops. He batted .291/.328/.542 with 35 home runs and 105 RBIs in 159 games with the Detroit Tigers and the Mets last season, per Baseball Reference.
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