Yoenis Cespedes, Mets agree to $110M, four-year contract

Make it two years in a row that the New York Mets have re-signed their slugger – with favorable terms.

With great power comes great responsibility.

Saying from the start of the offseason that Cespedes was their top priority, they brought him back with a four-year deal worth $110 million that reportedly includes a no-trade clause. Apparently, the Mets third baseman got Yo on the phone to congratulate him.

BREWERS: The team signed free agent Eric Thames, who spent the last three seasons in Korea, and designated first baseman Chris Carter for assignment. His interest in Cespedes a year ago illustrates the willingness is real. If Yo decides to go elsewhere, there’s a good chance the Amazin’s could be left out in the dark with no big signings if other potential outfielders like Jose Bautista or Dexter Fowler are off the table by then.

After he signed with the Mets in late January 2016, Cespedes told reporters he was never serious about signing in D.C. last winter. The answer? A $27.5 annual average contract.

I’ve been in tons of baseball clubhouses and this Met room stands out as a place where diverse backgrounds cannot only co-exist but learn so much from each other.

Under the new deal, Cespedes will receive $22.5 million in his first year followed by $29 million, $29 million and $29.5 million.

Rendon hit.270 with 20 home runs and 85 RBI in 156 games in his fourth season. The big-market Mets are back and they are going for it. Of the team’s various stars who have been mentioned as trade candidates, Martinez has emerged – in some eyes – as the most likely to be dealt. Cespedes batted.280 with 31 home runs and 86 runs batted in, playing in 132 games while dealing with a hip injury.

Carter, whose salary is expected to increase dramatically from the $2.5 million he made last season, was tied for the National League lead with 41 homers last season, but also struck out a franchise-record 206 times while batting.222 and totaling 94 RBIs. Red flags remain: He turned 33 earlier this month, is strictly a corner outfielder, and is owed $76 million over the next four seasons through his age-36 campaign before a mutual $15 million option for 2021.