The New York Mets have officially paid up for their MVP-caliber outfielder Yoenis Cespedes for the 2017 season and beyond.
According to FOXsports.com writer Ken Rosenthal, the New York Mets have officially signed back star outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, pending a physical. The deal is said to be worth $110 million over four years, making it the largest free-agent deal ever given out in Mets history.Sources: Cespedes back to #Mets.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 29, 2016
The historic contract averages $27.5 million annually, a number that is now the highest in MLB history for an outfielder on a multi-year deal. It also ties one of Alex Rodriguez‘s deals for the seventh-highest yearly value in major league history.
Detroit Tigers first baseman and perennial MVP-candidate Miguel Cabrera is now the only position player in the majors with a higher annual average than Cespedes at $31 million/year.
The 31-year-old outfielder also has a full no-trade clause in the deal – something the Cespedes camp was looking for due to this most likely being the last large contract of his career.
There has been no details released as of yet on a possible opt-out clause like his last deal with New York had, though.
Cespedes has been the rock of the Mets lineup over the past two seasons, with both culminating in postseason appearances – just the second such two-year playoff stretch in franchise history. His return solidifies the top of a Mets roster that was 74-58 with him in the starting lineup in 2016, while going just 13-17 without him.
Although Cespedes will be welcomed back in Queens with wide open arms, the Mets now have a bit of a logjam in the outfield for the upcoming season.
Jay Bruce had his $13 million option picked up at the start of the offseason and Curtis Granderson is on the last year of his deal, along with the growing roles and returns of Michael Conforto, Brandon Nimmo and Juan Lagares.
Manager Terry Collins will no doubt be using some platoons in his outfield in 2017, as the now more balanced combination of righty and lefty outfielders should make his job easier.
