MLB Free Agents: Yoenis Cespedes Open To Signing New Deal With New York Mets
New York Mets fans have endured almost a decade of baseball mediocrity, but this season has turned into a magical one with a real possibility of a World Series championship. One of the reasons is the arrival of outfielder Yoenis Cespedes at the trade deadline, and the fans want general manager Sandy Alderson to re-sign the soon-to-be free agent, as reported by ESPN.
CBS Sports notes that the Mets acquired the Cuban slugger from the Detroit Tigers for two pitching prospects, Michael Fulmer and Luis Cessa. Cespedes talked to New York Post and said that he is aware that Mets fans want him to stay with the team.
"Yes, I'm aware because my driver usually tells me what's going on," Cespedes said through an interpreter. The 29-year-old Cuban defector uses a car service as transportation from his Manhattan apartment to Citi Field.
New York is currently leading the Washington Nationals in the NL East standings by eight games. The four-year veteran said that he currently enjoys his time with the Mets and is open to signing with them long-term. He said to New York Post, "It's been the best month I've had in the last four years because of the results that I've had, and because currently, I'm in the playoffs."
"I was very surprised with the way the fans received me. I'm very happy here. This has been the most complete team that I've been a part of. So I'm definitely really happy to stay here. I feel really good about being here," Cespedes continued.
The right-handed hitter was signed as an international free agent in 2012 after defecting from Cuba to the Dominican Republic. According to MLB.com, he signed with the Oakland Athletics for four years and $36 million before being traded to the Boston Red Sox during the 2014 traded deadline, as per CBS Sports. Another MLB.com report noted that the Tigers acquired him later in 2014 for pitcher Rick Porcello.
The Mets previously only had five days after the end of World Series to re-sign Cespedes. He initiated the process to have his contract extension talks until the offseason along with his agency, Roc Nation Sports. So does it mean that he's now ready to sign a contract extension possibly worth $175 million?
"I don't want to start thinking about that. I don't want that to distract me from the goal. And then I'm focused on the money, and things don't work out for me the way I anticipate. I would rather not even think about it," the power hitter answered as quoted by the New York Post.
The Mets are closer and closer into the playoffs, barring an epic collapse and surge from the Nationals. They will be in the postseason for the first time since 2006.
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