All-Star outfielder Yoenis Cespedes was a highly coveted free agent this offseason yet chose to remain with the New York Mets instead of changing clubs for a fifth time within three years.
The team officially announced Tuesday that Cespedes would stick with the Mets on a three-year deal—worth $75 million, per Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal—and featured what he had to say on his decision on its Twitter account:
Cespedes' rationale for staying put in the Big Apple is sound. He refers to the feeling of home, which he hasn't really had during his young MLB career. Having played in Oakland, Boston and Detroit previously, the 30-year-old had to be relieved to settle down somewhere.
Plus, it wasn't as though Cespedes could have found a much better situation on the open market. The Mets played in the World Series this past year, with Cespedes playing an integral role to the cause.
Manager Terry Collins spoke about the value Cespedes brings to the Mets' batting order:
New York has a magnificent young pitching staff in place and the vast majority of its core returning in 2016, suggesting another legitimate chance at a championship is in play.
Veteran MLB reporter Peter Gammons noted how there's a nice window for the Mets to make their push for a World Series crown with Cespedes locked in on a lucrative deal:
If he plays at the level he did in 2015, when he batted .291 with career-high totals in home runs (35) and RBI (105), Cespedes may well help New York finish what it started last year before his new contract expires.
However, should things not go according to plan and the Mets struggle, there is a way out for Cespedes. ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney reported negotiations between the two sides reached a turning point when New York gave Cespedes the option to opt out of his contract after one year.
So while there's plenty of reason for the Mets and their fans to celebrate Cepsedes' return, the pressure is on for both him and the team to deliver right away.
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