Nationals pursuing Yoenis Cespedes

“We can surprise people”. That would make it less than the $132.75 million over six years that Justin Upton received from the Detroit Tigers.

Jon Heyman of CBS Sports has reported that the Nationals are pressing to get a deal done with the 30-year-old Cespedes and are willing to offer a 5-year deal in the $100 million range. Why would he settle for anything less than a five-year contract in the neighborhood of $22 million per season? The right-handed slugger with a rocket for an arm is rumored to be receiving some new found interest from the Washington Nationals.

The move was expected to give the Nationals a leadoff hitter and starting center fielder in Revere with Jayson Werth in left and Bryce Harper in right. The Nats have already added balance to their roster with lefties Revere and second baseman Daniel Murphy. After they obtained him from the Tigers at the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline, he batted.287, with 17 homers and 44 RBIs in 57 games.

Despite the threat of having their division rivals swoop in on Cespedes, the Mets’ aren’t willing to offer more than three years, Newsday’s Marc Carig reports.

While Mets fans are focused on the landing place of Yoenis Cespedes, the team’s Twitter account is concerned with… spring training? The Mets, given that they just made a World Series appearance with Cespedes, could be an attractive option for Cespedes if he wants to gamble on himself on a short deal, then re-enter the market next winter.

It would also allow the team to have a very dynamic outfield when they put Harper, Revere, and Cespedes together.

The more interesting factor here is the Mets.