The Nationals Want Cespedes, And Mets Fans Are About To Lose It
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The Washington Nationals are in hot pursuit of free agent slugger Yoenis Cespedes, and that has many Mets fans furious.
After missing out on outfielders Jason Heyward and Justin Upton this offseason, the Nats have made a contract offer to Cespedes, Fox Sports reported.
According to CBSSports.com/WFAN baseball insider Jon Heyman, Washington is "serious" about signing Cespedes and could offer five years, $100 million -- maybe more -- for the 30-year-old outfielder.
Nats are serious about getting deal done with cespedes. They'd have crowded OF and another move to make if they get it done
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) January 21, 2016
After batting .291 with 35 homers in 2015, Cespedes has reportedly been seeking a long-term, big-money contract.
The market for him, however, has been slow to develop. Two of his possible landing spots -- Baltimore and Detroit -- are likely no longer options after those teams struck deals with power-hitting outfielders Chris Davis and Upton in recent days, respectively.
The Mets made a trade-deadline deal with Detroit in July to bring Cespedes on board. He instantly gave the team's lagging offense the infusion it needed, batting .287 with 17 homers and 44 RBIs in 57 games.
The Mets, however, have been reluctant to offer the outfielder a long-term deal, but they have been staying in touch with Cespedes in hopes of signing him to a two- or three-year contract, Heyman reported.
The prospect of possibly losing Cespedes to the rival Nationals -- the same team that signed Mets postseason hero Daniel Murphy -- had many Amazin's fans on Twitter up in arms Thursday.
I figured they'd lose both Murphy and Cespedes but I didn't think the Nationals would sign both. Mets are an absolute joke
— Bullfrog the Wonderful (@MidnightBashem) January 21, 2016
If they let Cespedes go to the Nats I seriously gotta take a step back. I can't be invested if the people who run the team aren't
— Tim Wokefield (@NewYorkMehts) January 21, 2016
If Nationals wind up with both Murphy and Cespedes, it will be the most #Mets thing ever.
— Ron Marz (@ronmarz) January 21, 2016
Hey @MetsGM, just tell Fred and Jeff that we will all boycott Citi Field and SNY if Cespedes goes to the Nationals.
— JCC (@baseballny1127) January 21, 2016
If the Nationals sign Cespedes, @MLB has to have a hostile takeover and make the Wilpons sell the @Mets this is absolutely ridiculous
— Positivity Papi (@LOFTness_Monsta) January 21, 2016
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