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MLB free agency: 5 possible landing spots for Yoenis Cespedes

By Cody Williams

Oct 12, 2015; New York City, NY, USA; New York Mets center fielder Yoenis Cespedes (52) runs the bases after hitting a three run home run during the fourth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game three of the NLDS at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 12, 2015; New York City, NY, USA; New York Mets center fielder Yoenis Cespedes (52) runs the bases after hitting a three run home run during the fourth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game three of the NLDS at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 19, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Los Angeles Angels shortstop Erick Aybar (2) and center fielder Mike Trout (27) celebrate the 5-2 win over the Minnesota Twins for game two of a doubleheader at Target Field. The Angels win 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 19, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Los Angeles Angels shortstop Erick Aybar (2) and center fielder Mike Trout (27) celebrate the 5-2 win over the Minnesota Twins for game two of a doubleheader at Target Field. The Angels win 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Los Angeles Angels

In terms of fit, there may not be a better one in Major League Baseball for Cespedes than the Los Angeles Angels. The Angels have been relying on Colin Cowgill as their leftfielder in recent years, a player who Cespedes is far superior to. The desire to upgrade and the option to do so with Cespedes being on the market are clearly there. That doesn’t even begin to touch on how dangerous Cespedes would make the Angels lineup.

Again, Cespedes is coming off of a season where he hit for power and average in a way that he never had before. That sounds a lot like a guy already playing in Los Angeles that always seems to be in the American League MVP race; I think his name is Mike Trout. The possibility of having both Trout and Cespedes in the lineup is incredibly enticing for fans, much less the Angels front office when they see Cespedes out there for the takings.

However, the front office is where this gets tricky. The Angels already have a ton of money tied up for next season and beyond in guys like Trout, Jered Weaver, C.J. Wilson, Albert Pujols, and the dead-money on no-longer-with-the-Angels Josh Hamilton’s contract. Finding a way to fit a massive deal needed to lure Cespedes to Los Angeles with all of that money already accounted for is going to be difficult. However, if they can find a way to make the money work, be it trades or whatever else, pairing Trout and Cespedes up is something that the Angels have to explore.

Next: No. 2 Houston Astros

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