Yoenis Cespedes Rumors: Tigers, Marlins, Cubs “Most Active” on Cespedes
By Editorial Staff
Recently we’ve heard several updates regarding Cuban native Yoennis Cespedes’s free agency status. Cespedes’s delay in hitting the market has not caused team’s interest to falter, and Ken Rosenthal has reported that the Cubs, Marlins and Tigers are the “most active” clubs on the 26-year-old. Beyond these three, Cespedes has said that the White Sox, Orioles and Indians have also expressed “more interest” in signing him this winter.
With so many teams being tied to Cespedes, it’s hard to gauge a true frontrunner or even a group of leaders in the race for Yoennis. Two weeks ago Cespedes named the six clubs he considered to have “more interest” in signing him than others; the Marlins, Cubs, White Sox, Orioles, Tigers and Indians. Soon after those reports were released, Cespedes came out and said of all the teams that have pursued him this offseason, the Cubs “have been the most interested”.
Rosenthal now reports that the Cubs, Marlins and Tigers have all been tracking Cespedes “closely” in the Dominican Republic. Cespedes had been working out in the DR while trying to sort out his residency issues and the outfielder has since joined the Dominican Winter League.
While it’s known that many clubs are interested in Cespedes, it remains unknown when the Cuban slugger will hit the open market. Rosenthal finished his report by saying there is still no word on when Cespedes will become a free agent.
This weekend Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com reported that Cespedes had not completed the necessary paperwork to get the process of declaring residency rolling. Sanchez said once the paperwork is turned in it could take up to three months for residency to be established.
All throughout the offseason, Cespedes’s representation has said that Yoennis will be signed and with a club by the time Spring Training rolls around.
You can check out all of the available free agents by position below.