TORONTO – Perhaps Yoenis Cespedes coming off the board opens the off-season bottleneck and the market picks up in the days to come. Or maybe the quasi-limbo that’s marked free agency so far continues until a new collective bargaining agreement is in place.
Either way the $110-million, four-year agreement reached by the outfielder and the New York Mets bodes well for Edwin Encarnacion and Jose Bautista.
The Toronto Blue Jays free agents are now the most complete right-handed power hitters available on the open market, and the teams that were in on Cespedes – ESPN’s Buster Olney reported that the Houston Astros made a hard run at him – are sure to circle back to them.
Mark Trumbo and Chris Carter, designated for assignment by the Milwaukee Brewers after they signed Eric Thames on Tuesday, are out there, too, but for a club looking to maximize the immediate impact, Encarnacion and Bautista are where it’s at.
The Cespedes deal doesn’t necessarily set the market for them – he’s a solid defender heading into his age 31 season, while Encarnacion will play 2017 at 34, Bautista at 36 – but it does help establish the value for premium power.
In taking $110 million over four years, Cespedes opted for a higher annual average value over a shorter term than the five or six years he might have otherwise commanded. The Mets, meanwhile, struck before the new luxury threshold is set, potentially cutting off other bidders that may have entered the fray if it increases from $189 million in the next CBA.
The Encarnacion camp is certainly counting on the latter. Immediate speculation turned to the Astros jumping back in for him after losing out on Cespedes, and while the Texas Rangers have long been considered a possibility, the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees may very well emerge, too, if the luxury tax rises.
As for the Blue Jays, the sides continue to have dialogue but it’s difficult to envision Encarnacion and Kendrys Morales together on a functional roster. The $80-million, four-year offer extended to him at the beginning of the month was their best shot, and one industry source believes they are far more likely to land free-agent outfielder Dexter Fowler than re-sign Encarnacion.
What happens with Fowler – who won’t be returning to the Chicago Cubs after they signed Jon Jay to a one-year, $8-million deal – may very well determine the next steps for the Blue Jays, who have debated investing heavily in one or two pieces or spreading the wealth around.
Jay Bruce remains on their radar after they twice tried to acquire him last year, and the Mets are likely to move the outfielder in the wake of the Cespedes agreement.
Picking up both would give them a solid outfield, but the financial outlay wouldn’t leave them much money to work with to shore up the bullpen, add a backup catcher and a right-handed complement for Justin Smoak at first base.
Such a scenario doesn’t seem to leave an opening in Toronto for Bautista, who may end up the alternative for teams that fall short on Encarnacion and Carlos Beltran.
Unlike Encarnacion, Bautista offers some defensive flexibility as he can play both outfield and infield corners. While there’s a temptation to write him off because of his age and a down year marred by two unusual injuries, he still remained productive and his plate discipline is a crucial trait that doesn’t erode.
The Mets had been considered a potential suitor for Bautista, while the Astros are also thought of as a possible landing spot. The Red Sox, Yankees and even Baltimore Orioles have also been suggested but even if it takes some time, he’s going to get paid.
The deal for Cespedes – one that positions the Mets to remain a force in the National League East – gives the market a real starting point, and other pieces are now better set to start falling into place.