Céspedes Re-signs With Mets

Sean Taylor

January 23, 2016

Story by John Zackrison

NEW YORK, NY — The defending NL champions have re-signed the deadline spark plug that propelled them into the post-season and all the way to the World Series last year, signing outfielder Yoenis Céspedes to a 3-year, $75 million deal.

The deal is somewhat of a coup for the Mets, as Céspedes was expected to command a deal in the range of six to seven years. However, no team was willing to give him that, though the Washington Nationals were rumored to be offering a five year deal. The Mets sweetened their three year offer by throwing in an opt-out clause after the first year, meaning Céspedes can re-enter the free agent market next year, when it is expected to be considerably thinner than this off-season. Given he finished the year with some injury concerns, Céspedes now has a chance to prove he is healthy and that last season was not a fluke, and cash in with a lucrative long-term deal while still only 30 years old.

Getting the right-handed slugger back is welcome news for Mets fans, as the team already lost one of their offensive stars from last season in second baseman Daniel Murphy, who signed with division rival Washington. But if Céspedes can replicate his numbers from last season, New York should be in good shape, as his 35 home runs and .291 batting average took what had been an anemic Mets offense and turned it into a formidable line-up, as 17 of those home runs  came in just 57 games in New York.