Kuzul

The 2015 MLB winter meetings have come and gone, but the hot stove is still burning.

With the two biggest names now off the market (Zack Greinke and David Price), the rest of the offseason now begins to take shape. There are still some issues to be addressed, such as where Yoenis Cespedes will play next year and if the Tampa Bay Rays will really give up some of their young aces.

Here’s some of the latest news from around the MLB rumor mill.

Mets May Not Bring Back Cespedes

The argument can be made that if not for the New York Mets trading for Cespedes at the trade deadline, they wouldn’t have made the World Series.

Now, it appears the Mets are not interested in retaining the power-hitting outfielder, per Joel Sherman of the New York Post:

Unless Yoenis Cespedes’ contract demands fall precipitously (extremely doubtful), the Mets have no intention of signing him or making any long-term commitments in this free-agent class. Yes, they save most or all of the $12.5 million they would have paid Cuddyer. But that is just a one-year savings.

The Mets’ needs heading into this offseason were at shortstop and center field, and they did not see a long-term solution in either place in free agency. That includes Cespedes. They did not want to subtract from their elite rotation pieces to address the positions.

And then there is this: Cespedes was the most meaningful short-term addition the Mets made in July. But, for their long-term philosophy, the acquisitions of Kelly Johnson and Juan Uribe proved more vital.

The reigning National League champions built their postseason run around their young pitching staff and terrific play in the infield. With growing suspicion that the Mets will not even retain second baseman Daniel Murphy, the money is there to spend on a much-needed bat in the outfield.

Jon Heyman from CBS Sports noted that the Detroit Tigers, the team that traded Cespedes to the Mets this year, could be in play for him again.

Cespedes will turn 31 years old next year, so a contract like the one that the Chicago Cubs presented Jason Heyward with on Friday seems out of the question. But the Mets need offense any way they can get it, and if that means overpaying for a guy like Cespedes, so be it.

Red Sox No Longer Interested in Trading Bradley Jr.

The Boston Red Sox already made a splash in signing David Price, but it appears they won’t be looking to make another in trading outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr.

Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe is reporting that numerous teams have reached out to the Red Sox to inquire about Bradley, but Boston is not looking to move him at this time.

Among those teams are the reigning world champion Kansas City Royals, who are looking for a possible replacement for Alex Gordon should he not re-sign with the Royals:

The Royals have had their eye on Bradley as a possible replacement for Alex Gordon. The Red Sox and Royals also engaged in trade talks for Wade Miley before Miley was traded to the Mariners along with Jonathan Aro for reliever Carson Smith and lefty Roenis Elias. The Red Sox, according to one major league source, asked the Royals for hard-throwing reliever Kelvin Herrera, but Kansas City preferred to give up Luke Hochevar. The Red Sox opted for the Mariners deal.

The Cubs, in need of a center fielder, had Bradley high atop their list but opted for big-ticket item Jason Heyward, who is likely to shift from right field.

Any team interested in Bradley is getting him mainly for his glove, not his bat. He batted a career-best .249 last year, but his .994 fielding percentage is among the best in the major leagues. The Seattle Mariners were once interested in Bradley, but those talks died down.

The 25-year-old outfielder still has plenty of upside, especially at the plate. The Red Sox deciding not to trade him shows not only the confidence they have in him, but that they’re committed to preparing for the future and see Bradley as an important part of that vision.

Rays Could Shake Up Pitching Rotation

The Tampa Bay Rays have plenty of young pitchers that teams crave, and if there’s a deal to be had by any team looking to upgrade elsewhere, it’s with the Rays.

Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports noted that the Rays are the team that’s most open to making such a deal because of their pitching depth:

The Rays, even after trading righty Nathan Karns, offer three starters with the potential to be No. 2s—righty Jake Odorizzi and lefties Drew Smyly and Matt Moore. They also can move Alex Cobb, who likely will miss much of the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery last May, but is under club control at affordable salaries for the next two years.

Rays relievers Jake McGee and Brad Boxberger also are available, and trade is talk is intensifying around McGee, Fox Sports’ Jon Paul Morosi reported on Friday. It might take longer to trade a starter—the Rays, like the Rockies with their hitters, might need to wait for the free-agent market to settle, and pitchers such as Johnny Cueto and Mike Leake to come off the board.

The Rays finished 80-82 in 2015 with a relatively young team. They appear to be on the cusp of returning to playoff form, but they could use some more pieces. Moore has been an intriguing guy with No. 1 ability and could go to a team in desperate need of an ace.

The only pitcher that won’t be touched is Chris Archer, for obvious reasons. But if Tampa Bay is waiting until Cueto and Leake come off the board, then there may not be a deal involving the Rays until early January or maybe February. 

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The 2015 MLB offseason has been a major bummer for Chris Davis and Yoenis Cespedes.

The winter meetings are fading into the background and those free-agent mashers are still hunting for that lucrative, and to this point, elusive, payday.

The big leaguers who crack the list that follows fall into two camps. The first are prominent free agents like Crush Davis and La Potencia, whose respective markets have been slow to materialize. Some of those free-agents are stuck unaccounted for because they’re attached to draft pick compensation.

The second group are players whose names have been swirling around in the trade winds, but whose chances of actually getting moved look bleak. Some are playing on outsized contracts that don’t match their on-field production. Others, have ended up here because they’ve dealt with issues in the clubhouse or away from the diamond entirely.

Begin Slideshow

1. Navigating Nashville, Music City USA and Baseball’s Epicenter This Week

You probably think the most difficult thing for a general manager at the winter meetings is completing that three-way trade to land an ace or boxing out four other teams to land a bat.

Wrong. This year, the hardest thing in this massive maze of a resort that is the largest non-casino hotel in the United States outside of Las Vegas, with some 2,700 rooms, will be actually finding someone. For example, St. Louis general manager John Mozeliak could schedule a meeting with Cleveland GM Chris Antonetti on Monday at 1 p.m. to discuss a blockbuster trade, and they may not actually locate each other until Wednesday at 4 p.m. You need a GPS and a nutrition bar every time you leave your room, just in case.

Yes, signing a free agent like Jason Heyward (Cardinals? Angels?), Yoenis Cespedes (Mets? Cardinals?), Ben Zobrist (Mets? Cubs?), Johnny Cueto (Dodgers?), Chris Davis (Orioles?) or Daniel Murphy (Yankees?) will be difficult, too. It will require far more cash than clubs want to pay, especially based on what we’ve seen so far (David Price to Boston for seven years and $217 million, Zack Greinke to Arizona for six years and $206.5 million, Jordan Zimmermann to Detroit for five years and $110 million).

“I like the free-agent field. I think it’s good,” one longtime talent evaluator says, and amen to that. It is a strong and deep class this winter, especially regarding starting pitchers and corner outfielders.

But he adds, correctly: “I think it is the secondary guys who make or break a club more than the top-tier guys.”

Think back to 2012, the last time these winter meetings were in Nashville, and how Boston signed outfielder Shane Victorino, first baseman Mike Napoli and reliever Koji Uehara. All played key roles in the Red Sox winning the 2013 World Series.

In the meantime, the stage is set for an active trade market—possibly hyperactive—too. Several clubs have checked in with the Atlanta Braves on starter Shelby Miller. And rumors continue to crackle around a couple of legitimate aces: Oakland’s Sonny Gray and the Chicago White Sox’s Chris Sale.

Best part, always, are the surprise deals. Last year, nobody saw the Dodgers dealing second baseman Dee Gordon to Miami, and the Marlins wound up obtaining a batting champion.

As long as nobody goes missing, or is lost traveling the indoor river that flows through the Opryland Hotel, all should be good.   

2. NL West: Off to the Races

The question as they flew to Nashville was, will the Dodgers get left behind?

Zack Greinke to the Diamondbacks and Jeff Samardzija to the Giants left the Dodgers playing catch-up, big-time. But practically before Monday morning’s coffee had cooled, Los Angeles was on the move: They were on the verge of a deal with free-agent right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma late Sunday night, according to Bleacher Report sources, then Monday morning they reportedly landed Cincinnati closer Aroldis Chapman for two prospects.

The Dodgers were left with no choice but to act quickly: Losing Greinke was bad enough, but watching him flee to an NL West rival was especially painful in terms of Arizona closing the gap for 2016.

Together, Greinke and Clayton Kershaw camouflaged a series of weaknesses in Los Angeles last summer. Even had Greinke returned, the Dodgers needed rotation help. Now, it’s S.O.S. time, especially with the San Francisco Giants immediately striking to sign right-hander Jeff Samardzija ($90 million) practically before Greinke had even learned what next summer’s uniform combinations will be like in Arizona (trust us, there seemingly are more offerings than the 31 flavors at Baskin-Robbins).

The Diamondbacks and Giants both would like to add another starting pitcher, and both, according to industry sources, are targeting Mike Leake.

In San Francisco’s favor, perhaps, is that Leake pitched for Bruce Bochy during the second half of last year after Cincinnati traded him.

In Arizona’s favor, perhaps, is that with Greinke aboard, the Diamondbacks clearly have momentum going into ’16, and Leake played in Tempe at Arizona State.

The Dodgers? Adding Chapman to closer Kenley Janssen not only adds intrigue internally (Which one will close? Would Janssen accept a move to the eighth inning?), it signals the club’s post-Greinke plan: Clearly, building a strong bullpen now is a necessity given a rotation that likely will be weaker. Their sticking point with Greinke was they did not want to add a sixth year to their offer for a pitcher who already is 32.

One thing that has to rankle the Dodgers is that, with a payroll of around $300 million, they pumped $44 million worth of competitive balance tax into this year’s pool, and the D-backs were only too happy to be one of the recipients. In a way, the Dodgers helped finance Arizona’s poaching of Greinke.

3. Strong Secondary Pitching Market

Beyond David Price and Zack Greinke, the market is loaded with options—though things already have started to move. Even with Jordan Zimmermann (Tigers), Jeff Samardzija (Giants), John Lackey (Cubs) and Hisashi Iwakuma (Dodgers) off the market, Johnny Cueto, Yovani Gallardo, Ian Kennedy, Doug Fister, Scott Kazmir, Mike Leake, Wei-Yin Chen, Bartolo Colon and Mat Latos all are available.

And already, Cueto reportedly turned down a $120 million offer from Arizona (the D-backs, of course, rebounded nicely with Greinke).

Beyond the free agents and the aforementioned starting pitcher trade options, even more could flood the market. Cleveland is desperate for offense, and some wonder whether the Indians will fix that by trading from their starting pitching depth. The names of Carlos Carrasco, Danny Salazar and Trevor Bauer all have made their way to the rumor mill, so whether Cleveland finds a deal it likes will be one fascinating part of this week.

As the Padres look to fill holes, they are believed to be making James Shields very available. Failing that, don’t be surprised if the Padres move Andrew Cashner or Tyson Ross (for a whopping price only).

Might Tampa Bay move one of its excellent starters, Jake Odorizzi or Matt Moore? Might the Yankees deal Ivan Nova as they look to reshuffle and upgrade their rotation?

Beyond Price and Greinke, there are no sure things. While Bochy and San Francisco pitching coach Dave Righetti stand every chance of getting Samardzija launched in the right direction, he is coming off of a rock ’em, sock ’em year in which he led the majors in hits allowed and earned runs allowed, and produced a ragged 4.96 ERA.

“The thing that’s attractive about Samardzija to me is that he’s a super athlete,” one former GM says. “He’s going to go out there, and he’s probably going to get you 200 innings a year for the next four or five years. So at least you’re getting that.”

Yeah, but…

“I think the team that signs Samardzija will be horrified with the lack of what he gives you,” says one scout. “I understand he gives you [innings], but you lose. The most wins he’s had in a season in his career is 11. He’s a .500 pitcher at best, and he’s never proven anything beyond that.”

See, in baseball during the winter, as in modeling, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

4. Where Will Jason Heyward Go, and Whatever Happened to Yoenis Cespedes?

Let’s not allow pitching to hog the entire spotlight (hey, this is Nashville, and even on the television show by the same name, there’s plenty of room for both Connie Britton and Hayden Panettiere).

With runs per game and hits per game dwindling to early 1970s rates, few teams out there do not need hitting. And there are a handful of difference-makers, starting with Heyward. The Cardinals would love to bring him back. The Angels have a big need for an impact, left-handed bat. He fits several other places, too, and is projected by at least one handicapper to hit $200 million or more over 10 years.

“He is interesting to me, but the money they’re talking about with him I just don’t believe,” one industry source says. “This isn’t Mike Trout we’re talking about.”

So let’s raise a question: What if, instead of paying Heyward that, a team in the market for an outfielder who can get on base went for Dexter Fowler instead?

“If I wanted to get two guys out of this, I’d go get Fowler and then somebody else for the same money I’d have to pay Heyward,” the source says. “The market is there to go ahead and do that, to get two of what is considered second-tier players.”

Heyward is 26 and batted .293/.359/.439 with 13 homers, 60 RBI and 23 steals last season.

Fowler is 29 and batted .250/.346/.411 with 17 homers, 46 RBI and 20 steals last season.

In their same list, mlbtraderumors.com projects Fowler to go for $60 million over four years. Sure, Heyward is younger, but one size doesn’t fit all in the Hot Stove League.

Speaking of which, there is remarkably little buzz, so far, surrounding Cespedes. Partly because….

5. Ben Zobrist, Darling of the Hot Stove League

The Mets are pursuing Zobrist hard, according to Bleacher Report sources, and he fits well with several other clubs, too, including the Angels, Yankees, Dodgers, Cubs, Nationals and Giants. Take your pick; Zobrist is versatile in the field, he’s a switch-hitter and he’s a leader in the clubhouse.

As of now, Cespedes is holed up waiting for clubs that don’t get Zobrist to turn to him.

6. The Unknown Factor in This Year’s Meetings

Introductions, please:

Ten clubs have changed GMs (or point men in charge of baseball operations, if you factor in those with a “president of baseball operations”-type of title) in the past few months, including the Angels (Billy Eppler), Red Sox (Dave Dombrowski), Tigers (Al Avila), Mariners (Jerry Dipoto), Blue Jays (Mark Shapiro/Tony LaCava/Ross Atkins), Brewers (David Stearns), Braves (John Coppolella), Marlins (Michael Hill is still president of baseball operations but the GM position is vacant), Phillies (Matt Klentak) and Reds (Dick Williams, with Walt Jocketty moving up to director of baseball operations).

Some of those names are familiar and experienced (Dombrowski, Dipoto), but many are just breaking ground in their new roles. How quickly will they move? How difficult will it be for them to navigate the landscape at the winter meetings and deal? And will they get lost in Nashville like so many hotel guests seen aimlessly wandering around?

7. Revisiting Closers

Already, Boston has traded for Craig Kimbrel and Detroit has acquired Francisco Rodriguez, and with teams such as the Chicago Cubs looking for a closer, there are several to be had via the trade market.

Early Monday morning, the Dodgers reportedly acquired the sexiest name on the trade market, Cincinnati closer Aroldis Chapman, but Monday night a bombshell dropped: Yahoo! Sports’ Tim Brown and Jeff Passan reported of a domestic violence incident at Chapman’s Florida home in October that put the trade on hold and well may lead to bigger and far more serious issues.

The Yankees are said to be listening on Andrew Miller as they look to upgrade their rotation. The Phillies are listening on Ken Giles, the White Sox might be enticed to deal David Robertson, one of their prizes from last year’s free-agent market, and the Nationals are widely expected to trade Drew Storen this winter and make a strong push to deal Jonathan Papelbon.

8. Other Points of Interest Beyond the Johnny Cash Museum

• Credit the Cubs for identifying a need and zeroing in on it quickly: John Lackey was a great under-the-radar buy before the Cubs snapped him up with a two-year, $32 million deal. “He’s one of the best out there,” one scout told B/R a couple of hours before he landed with the Cubs. “I know he’s 37, but this guy gives unbelievable effort and quality starts, time in and time out.”

• The Padres are expected to be much quieter than they were last year when GM A.J. Preller stole the show at the winter meetings, but they still need a shortstop (Ian Desmond?) and bullpen help (Fernando Rodney?).

• The Blue Jays traded 11 pitchers this year (including Daniel Norris and Matt Boyd to the Tigers in the David Price deal). They are looking to replenish their supply of minor league arms.

• They are done with their major moves, the Red Sox say, but some in the industry still expect new president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski to dump erstwhile slugger Hanley Ramirez at some point. “I would get Hanley as far away from that ball club as possible,” one executive says. “Panda (Pablo Sandoval) is a follower, not a leader. When he was with the Giants, he wasn’t a guy you worried much about. Yeah, he was overweight, but he played hard. Then he gets with Hanley and has one of the worst years of his career. Gee, I wonder if there’s any correlation. David’s got to unload one of those two, and my guess is he unloads Hanley—and he’s going to pay for a bunch of it.” Ramirez is still owed more than $69 million over the next three years.

• The Reds aren’t necessarily looking to deal third baseman Todd Frazier, but given the rebuilding and desperate need for pitching, anything is possible with Cincinnati.

• The Hall of Fame Pre-Integration Committee fired a shutout, failing to elect any of the 10 candidates they were considering. Charged with reviewing those who played before Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in 1947, the committed reviewed, among others: Wes Ferrell (who pitched for 15 seasons and finished second in AL MVP voting in 1935 with Boston), Sam Breadon (an early Cardinals owner who hired Branch Rickey and created the blueprint for the modern farm system), slick-fielding shortstop Marty Marion (1944 NL MVP with the Cardinals), first baseman Frank McCormick (1940 NL MVP with the Reds) and right-hander Bucky Walters (who won the 1939 NL MVP award with the Reds).

• Sending all the best to Mets GM Sandy Alderson, who is battling an undisclosed form of cancer and is embarking upon 12 weeks of chemotherapy, and will not be in attendance in Nashville. Good thoughts and prayers his way.

9. Who Is Kenta Maeda and Why Do You Need to Know Him?

He is a 27-year-old right-hander posted last week by his Japanese team, the Hiroshima Carp. Being that he is at least two years younger than the best free-agent starters available right now and given that he won the Japanese version of a Cy Young Award this year (he surrendered only five total homers while facing 821 batters), he immediately becomes a very interesting player.

The Diamondbacks are looking for another starting pitcher, and GM Dave Stewart raved about Maeda last winter. “I love Maeda,” Stewart told MLB.com. “I love him.” The Dodgers need pitching, the A.J. Preller-led Padres always are in the market for international players, the Yankees could absolutely use him (though they again apparently are determined to stay under the $189 million competitive balance tax threshold and may not make a big free-agent move).

Any interested major league club can bid up to $20 million for the right to negotiate with him, and the winner would earn exclusive negotiating rights. If that club signs him, it pays the posting bid to the Carp, plus the contract to Maeda. If Maeda goes unsigned, that club does not owe anything to Hiroshima.

Scott Miller covers Major League Baseball as a national columnist for Bleacher Report.

Follow Scott on Twitter and talk baseball.

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Free-agent slugging outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, fresh off a World Series appearance, is testing the market and beginning to garner interest. 

Continue for updates.

Tigers Considering Cespedes

Monday, Dec. 7

CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman reported the Detroit Tigers are “looking” at Cespedes.

Angels Could Be Cespedes Suitor

Saturday, Dec. 5

Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News reported the Angels may make a run at Cespedes.

Giants in Need of Power Bat

Saturday, Dec. 5

According to USA Today‘s Bob Nightengale, the San Francisco Giants are in search of a power bat, which is where Cespedes’ name pops up along with Justin Upton, another free agent who played with the San Diego Padres last season. 

Cespedes, who was traded to the New York Mets at the deadline in July, put together a monster second half on his way to a 35-home run, 105-RBI season. He hit 17 home runs in just 57 games with the Mets, helping them to a World Series appearance—their first in 15 years. 

After his four-year, $36 million deal expired at the end of the season, via Spotrac.com, Cespedes told ESPN Deportes’ Marly Rivera (h/t ESPN.com) that he is looking for a six-year contract, which could put him over the $100 million mark. 

Cespedes’ representatives are working hard to get him a big-time contract, according to ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick:

As a prelude to the Hot Stove shopping season, Cespedes’ representatives at the Creative Artists Agency and Roc Nation distributed a coffee table-type book to a select list of teams. The book, titled “52 Reviews” (in honor of Cespedes’ jersey number), has a black-and-white cloth cover, runs about 100 pages and features laudatory comments and testimonials from managers, coaches, players, front-office executives and members of the media.

In a bow to technology, the book also has a video player embedded inside the front cover. Executives who push the “play” button are treated to an array of Yoenis Cespedes home runs, jaw-dropping throws and other highlights set to music.

The Giants are in need of some pop in the middle of their lineup. Last season, they ranked 27th in the league in home runs with 136, with shortstop Brandon Crawford leading the team with 21. 

While Cespedes might be looking for a lot of money, the Giants have already shown this offseason they are capable of flashing the cash, signing pitcher Jeff Samardzija to a five-year, $90 million deal on Saturday. 

If they acquire a big bat that is capable of turning a game on its head like Cespedes’, the Giants could take a big step toward taking back the National League West.

Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com

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From Zack Greinke to Aroldis Chapman, both the MLB free-agent market and the trade block are stocked with impact arms.

For now, no one knows just where exactly those stars will end up. However, after considering team needs for 2016 and taking into account all the latest buzz, here are some surprise destinations that make sense as potential landing spots.

The list that follows includes the top five free agents from Bleacher Report’s big board and the two most-prominent names on the trade front. Pitchers dominate the list, but there’s also room for a few big hitters who should make a big difference for their new employers in 2016.

Begin Slideshow

Euphoria eventually wears off. It fades like a glorious fog that can be thick enough to mask a flawed landscape within.

That is not to say everything is bad once things clear up. Things might still be attractive to certain onlookers, just not as wonderful as the oasis that once existed.

This is sort of the way Yoenis Cespedes’ free agency has developed. Not that he won’t have a market, and not that he might not command something north of $100 million by the time he puts pen to paper, but the euphoria of his post-trade production with the New York Mets faded through the postseason and could result in some teams becoming unwilling to commit nine figures to him.

“The World Series exposed his occasional inattentiveness and other flaws, but some of those struggles perhaps stemmed from a shoulder injury,” Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal wrote this week. “The bigger problem for Cespedes might be generating enough interest from high-revenue clubs.”

But it only takes a single mega-money agreement to sink a player’s value, turning him into a rip-off going forward.

The Mets, the Detroit Tigers (Cespedes’ former team), the Boston Red Sox, the New York Yankees, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs do not appear to have interest in him right now. If Cespedes was looking for a deal that topped Jacoby Ellsbury’s $153 million total, taking those teams out of the mix puts a huge dent in that plan.

However, as we have seen time and time again in free agency, it only takes one team to want a guy enough that it offers him the years and dollar amount he is seeking. There does not have to be a bidding war, only one general manager looking to price out the market and secure the player’s signature.

And with the San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners, Houston Astros and Los Angeles Angels possibly in the market for an impact bat, Cespedes still could land that kind of huge contract.

“He was hurt by makeup questions in Boston and little things have cropped up in New York,” the New York Post’s Joel Sherman wrote about Cespedes recently. “He is a great athlete with righty power (that pays) with an industry worried if he shuts down with long-term security.”

Cespedes turned his production to volume 10 after his July trade from the Tigers to the Mets, which was the third time he’s been traded in the previous three years to give him four employers since the July 2012 trade deadline. That movement has some believing Cespedes will continue to be driven even after locking in a rich, long-term deal.

“In my view, he’s developed a pretty big chip on his shoulder from being traded so many times in recent years,” a scout told Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com. “I think that will drive him for a while.”

Upon getting to New York, Cespedes hit .309/.356/.691 with a 1.048 OPS, 17 home runs and 42 RBI in his first month and a half (41 games, 188 plate appearances) with the Mets. Those numbers even drew in supporters of him as a National League MVP candidate.

He cooled down dramatically over the last 16 regular-season games, and during the postseason, he hit .222/.232/.352 with a .584 OPS and 17 strikeouts in 56 plate appearances. He also played some shoddy defense, though it came in center field, where no courting team would consider making him a full-time occupant.

Cespedes has been a productive player to this point in his career since coming to the majors from Cuba. Since his debut in 2012, he ranks 12th among all outfielders in FanGraphs’ wins above replacement, and his 121 wRC+ is 21st among qualified outfielders.

Defensively, he is also one of the better left fielders in the game. His 32 defensive runs saved rate third since 2012, and his 33.3 ultimate zone rating ranks second, as does his throwing arm.

The red flags are that Cespedes gets on base only about 32 percent of the time, and a guy like Alex Gordon, while he is older, might come cheaper with better defense. Gordon also gets on base more, though he has less power.

Cespedes probably will never recreate those stunning first six weeks he spent with the Mets, but he will almost certainly be better than what he was in the postseason. Teams also have to consider that Cespedes is 30 years old, the prime time for hitters to start their career decline.

For Cespedes to reach the $150 million range, it means some team is paying him for his best past production and praying he will duplicate it in the years to come. That is a dangerous precedent, and one that could turn Cespedes from a trade-deadline god to a free-agent bust.

The euphoria has faded for Cespedes, but the coming weeks will tell if enough of it can still blind some team to pay him beyond his actual worth.

All quotes, unless otherwise specified, have been acquired first-hand by Anthony Witrado. Follow Anthony on Twitter @awitrado and talk baseball here.

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Yoenis Cespedes‘ midseason acquisition helped propel the New York Mets to their first World Series appearance since 2000, but don’t expect him back in Queens next season.

Continue for updates.

Mets Expect Cespedes to Leave in Free Agency

Monday, Nov. 2

Adam Rubin of ESPN.com reported the Mets are planning to only “modestly pursue” Cespedes when he hits the open market this winter. 

“It’s too early for that,” Cespedes, who indicated he’d like to return to New York, said of his future following the Mets’ World Series elimination, per Rubin. “My agent told me that we’ll see what’s going on around December or so. It’s just too early.”

Cespedes, 30, hit .287/.337/.604 with 17 home runs and 44 RBI in 57 regular-season games with the Mets. His performance was so impressive it even drew some outside National League MVP buzz despite Cespedes coming over from the American League’s Detroit Tigers at the trade deadline.

But while his performance burned hot early on, it regressed to the mean down the stretch. Cespedes did not hit a home run in the Mets’ final 16 regular-season games, and he struggled his way through an injury-riddled postseason. A foul ball to his left knee in Sunday night’s Game 5 loss to the Kansas City Royals ended his season early, and he battled a hand injury during New York’s playoff run.

Overall, he hit .222/.232/.352 with two homers and eight RBI in the playoffs. While far from an ideal outcome, Cespedes’ regular-season ascent may wind up taking him out of the Mets’ price range in free agency.

Follow Tyler Conway (@tylerconway22) on Twitter

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As the Kansas City Royals celebrate their World Series victory over the New York Mets, MLB teams will waste little time preparing for the offseason.

A few notable World Series participants will quickly shift their focus to free agency. Two drastically different outfielders from each side will hit the open market this winter. While one halted his rapidly rising stock, the other may have boosted his appeal with one monumental swing.

Facing key decisions, the Royals and Mets won’t spend much time basking in their postseason accomplishments. With the offseason beginning, let’s take an early look at three prominent free-agent hitters.

Yoenis Cespedes

Poor postseason aside, Yoenis Cespedes remains one of the offseason’s top free agents. The 30-year-old hit .291/.328/.542 with a career-high 35 home runs, 17 of which he smacked through 57 games with the Mets. Before moving to center field, sensational defense in left led him to a 6.7 WAR, soaring past his previous career best of 3.3. 

His late-season power outburst led the Mets to their first National League East title since 2006, but a report from CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman suggests Cespedes‘ status as a midseason rental hasn’t changed. 

“There is increasing belief the Mets will let Yoenis Cespedes walk for big bucks via free agency,” Heyman wrote. “Though Cespedes has played brilliantly for them, people around the game figure they will save the big bucks for their vaunted young pitching staff.”

The postseason has offered a sobering reminder of his flaws. Holding a minuscule 6.1 walk percentage over his career, the aggressive slugger will swing at anything, leading to 17 strikeouts and one walk through 55 playoff plate appearances. There’s a reason he has played on four teams over the past three years, and it’s his .319 career on-base percentage.

Of course, the Mets didn’t mind his poor plate discipline when he clobbered baseballs left and right, but his power barrage priced the outfielder out of their future plans. Playing him in center is also unsustainable over the long haul, and Michael Conforto has left field locked down for 2016 and beyond.

The Detroit Tigers—who dealt him to the Mets last July with the playoffs out of reach—will look to quickly revamp their roster for a return to October baseball. They have the money and willingness to spend big on aging stars, so look for a reunion.

Prediction: Cespedes signs five-year deal with Detroit Tigers

Alex Gordon

If not for Alex Gordon, the Royals are going back to Kansas City to close out the World Series. Instead, he pelted Jeurys Familia for a game-tying home run in the ninth inning of Game 1, making their 14-inning victory possible. The Mets closer had not blown a save since late July before the huge blast.

ESPN Stats & Info also pointed out the rarity of such a clutch World Series dinger:

The playoff heroics can’t hurt the outfielder’s free-agent stock, but he hardly needed the boost. A decade ago, a career .269 hitter who delivers 20 homers during a good year wouldn’t net a massive payday. Now they see a stud who provides Gold Glove defense in left field and an .809 OPS since 2011. 

Veterans with keen plate discipline and gap power age better than pure sluggers, so the 31-year-old outfielder will prove a hot commodity if/when he enacts his opt-out clause for 2016 instead of accruing $12.5 million.

Along with mentioning two fitting suitors, Joel Sherman of the New York Post added another surprising candidate hunting for his services.

“Clubs such as the Astros and Cubs are mentioned in what should be a deep field,” Sherman wrote. “However, a few executives cited one team that has surprised me—the Red Sox.”

The Boston Red Sox have a lot of dough tied up to Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez, who will move from left field to first base next season. Yet they still have Mookie Betts, Jackie Bradley Jr. and Rusney Castillo lined up in the outfield, and any money lying around should go to upgrading their pitching staff.

Gordon would fit well with the Houston Astros or Chicago Cubs, both up-and-coming contenders loaded with young power but in need of depth and outfield defense.

While Kyle Schwarber can rake for the Cubs, he proved a nightmare in left field during the National League Championship Series. Adding Gordon’s superb bat and glove to their young nucleus would bring the Cubs one step closer to snapping a century-long title drought.

Prediction: Gordon signs four-year deal with Chicago Cubs

Ian Desmond

Contrary to Cespedes and Gordon, Ian Desmond did himself no favors this year. Along with snapping a streak of three consecutive 20-20 campaigns, the shortstop hit a dismal .233/.290/.384 while committing 27 errors.

He rebounded from a brutal start, registering a .777 second-half OPS. Yet buyers will beware his diminishing power and rising strikeout rates, both of which have consistently veered in the wrong direction.

According to Heyman, his strong finish will keep teams interested in Desmond, who will almost certainly leave the Washington Nationals with rookie Trea Turner taking his job.

“Many think the Mets will be serious players for free-agent shortstop Ian Desmond,” Heyman wrote. “The Mariners, Padres, White Sox, Twins and others could also be in the Desmond market.” 

Wilmer Flores delivers intriguing power at shortstop, but his lack of plate discipline and defensive dependability cloud his future. Same for Daniel Murphy, who will probably parlay his seven postseason homers into a big deal elsewhere. So why in the world would the Mets replace one or both of them with a poor defender who can’t get on base?

The San Diego Padres, on the other hand, desperately targeted power last offseason at the cost of fielding. Although hungry to contend, they don’t have the resources to chase top-tier stars, which leaves them eyeing flawed, high-upside talent like Desmond.

In a dried-out market, look for Desmond to take a short deal in hopes of repairing his value.

Prediction: Desmond signs two-year deal with San Diego Padres

Note: All advanced stats courtesy of FanGraphs. 

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New York Mets star outfielder Yoenis Cespedes exited Sunday’s World Series game against the Kansas City Royals after suffering a knee injury.

Continue for updates.

Juan Lagares Replaces Cespedes

Sunday, Nov. 1

Cespedes left Sunday’s Game 5 in the sixth inning after he hit a foul ball off his knee. Jon Heyman of CBS Sports noted “Cespedes now has [an] ailing knee to go along with shoulder,” while Scott Miller of Bleacher Report described the scene:

Cespedes stayed in the game to finish his at-bat and popped out with the bases loaded. Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports added the injury was to the outfielder’s kneecap, and he underwent an X-ray after he left the game.

Cespedes played his best season to date in 2015, reaching career-best totals of 35 home runs and 105 RBI while posting a .290 batting average. Combine that with his incredible arm in the outfield, and Cespedes has all the makings of a franchise cornerstone.

In the Mets’ closeout Game 4 against the Chicago Cubs in the National League Championship Series, Cespedes was dealing with a sore left shoulder. Even though he left that contest, New York managed to dominate in an 8-3 win at Wrigley Field and clinch a berth in the World Series, proving it can overcome Cespedes’ absence at a critical time.

The Mets have such a stacked pitching rotation that they don’t need the type of run support another staff might. As important as Cespedes is to New York’s lineup and defense, the club can survive without him as it attempts to climb back from a 3-1 World Series deficit.

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New York Mets fans don’t care much for Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Chase Utley at the moment.

A game after his controversial slide took out—and injured—shortstop Ruben Tejada, Utley was on the L.A. bench as the Mets piled on the runs in Game 3 of the National League Division Series.

After superstar Yoenis Cespedes hammered a mammoth three-run dinger in the fourth inning, New York broke out into a “We want Utley!” chant.

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