Since it was announced that they were set to meet with Yoenis Cespedes earlier this week, the Miami Marlins have been widely declared the favorite to land the Cuban slugger. Now it is being reported that the Marlins have backed this belief by offering Cespedes a contract.
Eric Reynoso of Café Fuerte reported yesterday that a source close to the negotiations told him that the Marlins have offered Cespedes a deal worth close to $40 million over six years. Cespedes is said to have received this offer from the Marlins before returning to the Dominican Republic.
After this initial report was released, Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald tweeted that he heard the Marlins offer to Cespedes was for less than $40 million.
Cespedes sat down with the Marlins in Miami earlier this week in what was expected to be the first of several face-to-face meetings between the 26-year-old and prospective suitors. However, after meeting with the Marlins Cespedes apparently left the U.S. before meeting with any other clubs. The reports of the offer from the Marlins seemingly cement their stance as favorites in the Cespedes sweepstakes.
According to one of Reynoso’s sources, Cespedes and his representation do not have any meetings scheduled with other teams. Beyond the Marlins, the Cubs, White Sox, Indians, Orioles and Tigers have all expressed interest in Cespedes this offseason.
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