Yoenis Cespedes agrees to three-year deal with Mets
Outfielder Yoenis Cespedes has signed a three-year contract with the New York Mets, the team announced Tuesday.
The deal is for three years with a one-year opt-out clause, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network.
“I loved my experience with the Mets last season,” Cespedes said in a statement. “In a short period of time, my teammates and the fans made New York feel like home, and I truly felt embraced by the entire organization. As I entered free agency, I couldn’t deny the pull to come back and finish what we had started last year.”
Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports estimates the deal is in the $75 million range and includes a no-trade clause. If Cespedes opts out of his contract, he will get $27.5 million for the one year, according to Heyman.
The 30-year-old outfielder hit .287 with 17 home runs and 44 RBIs in 57 games with the Mets in 2015, after being acquired from the Detroit Tigers just before the July trade deadline. He was vital in New York’s run to the World Series, garnering some consideration for the NL MVP award, as he finished the 2015 season with a .291 batting average, 35 home runs and 105 RBIs.
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Heyman reported on Thursday that the Nationals were “serious” about getting a contract done with Cespedes and that they would pay in the neighborhood of $100 million over five years. He had also been linked to theWhite Sox and Orioles.
In four MLB seasons, the Cuba native is a career .271 hitter with 106 home runs and 367 RBIs.
