Yoenis Cespedes Targeted by Several Teams
By Editorial Staff
Soon after his fantastic workout video launched Cuban-defector Yoennis Cespedes into the National spotlight, it’s being reported that several clubs are interested in signing the center fielder. While his YouTube performance may be part of the reason, the New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, Washington Nationals and Miami Marlins are probably more interested in the above-average skills Cespedes provides.
Praised by Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus as the best player to emerge from Cuba in the last generation, many expected Cespedes to become a hot commodity once he hit Major League Baseball’s free agent market. Once he is cleared to join free agency, Cespedes will become the best available center fielder and one of the top overall players in the class of 2012.
Not only does Cespedes play the prime position of center field, Goldstein says the 26-year-old has plus power and speed. The power factor has become evident during his time in Cuba where Cespedes hit a league-record 33 home runs last season, finishing the year with a slugging percentage of .667.
According to Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post, the Nationals plan on being one of Cespedes’ primary suitors. For some time now, Washington has been in search of a young and athletic center fielder. This summer, the Nationals kicked the tires on B.J. Upton and Michael Bourn, but couldn’t reach an agreement for either player.
Washington has been scouting Cespedes for years, as one official told Kilgore that they “know a lot about him”. The Nationals’ take seems to mirror Goldstein’s, as an official said that Cespedes “looks like a football player” and plays like one too as he can run and has serious power.
Earlier today, Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports confirmed that the Yankees are interested in Cespedes. On top of the Bombers, Kilgore hears that the Marlins and Phillies are also intrigued. Philadelphia is in the market for an outfielder, and Miami would be a fit because of their need and proximity to Cespedes’ home land.
Cespedes figures to command a deal in the same neighborhood of the $30 million contract Aroldis Chapman signed last winter.
You can check out all of the available free agents by position below.