THE CESPEDES FACTOR

Source: FOX Sports

So by now you know that the New York Mets have re-signed Yoenis Cespedes to a new four-year deal totaling $110 million dollars.  And the Yankees have not signed any big bats or big arms as of the last day of November.  But with the Winter Meetings fast approaching and some big time chatter around big bats Edwin Encarnacion, Mark Trumbo and Carlos Beltran and big arms Rich Hill, Derek Holland and of course Aroldis Chapman, there is a lot of anticipation that something will happen soon.  However, as I hate to be the bearer of negativity, there could be some fallout around the Cespedes signing and the rise in costs of free-agents because of this signing.

Source: Sports On Earth

According to George A. King III of the New York Post, "An MLB executive said he believed the Mets overspent for Cespedes, and Encarnacion, 34 in January, could benefit from the deal. This might help him because some teams might think [Encarnacion] is a better purchase,’’ the executive said of Encarnacion, who can play first base but isn’t the defender at that spot Cespedes is in the outfield."

Source: Latino Baseball

Hmmm- that's kind of interesting.

But would the Yankees pay for a 34-year-old veteran bat?  How about a 40-year-old bat in the likes of Carlos Beltran?  The difference, besides six years, is that Beltran would not be looking for a long term deal like Encarnacion.  According to King, "With the Astros, Blue Jays and Red Sox joining the Yankees in search of a DH, Beltran has been linked to all four teams. The Red Sox attempted to pry the veteran switch-hitting outfielder away from the Yankees at this season’s trade deadline, but he was dealt to the Rangers."

Source: UPI

And what about Mark Trumbo, who besides Ben Zobrist, was the best bang for the free-agent buck of the 2016 season?  According to the Baltimore Sun, "They (the Orioles) did, however, assign a qualifying offer to right fielder/designated hitter Mark Trumbo, who led the majors with 47 home runs this season. If Trumbo accepts, he’ll be paid $17.2 million on a one-year contract in 2017. If he declines and opts to test free agency for the first time in his career, the Orioles will get a compensatory pick at the end of the first round of the 2017 MLB Draft."

Source: MLB.com

So with the Cespedes signing comes a rise in the need and cost of other free agents and a frenzy for the biggest bat.  It will be interesting to see what transpires, but if I had a pick or wish, I would wish for Trumbo but his price tag may have just elevated thanks to the Mets.

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof