After finishing the 2015 regular season with one of the hottest runs in recent MLB history, Yoenis Cespedes earned the right to ink a mammoth contract in the offseason. Problem was, no one could afford what he was asking for and it took until late-January for the Mets and Cespedes to finally strike a deal.
Cespedes wanted a lengthy contract with the Mets, but agreed upon a three-year $75 million deal that would keep him in the Big Apple until 2018, unless he’s traded before the end of his deal.
While this may seem like a lot of money, if he performs just as he did after getting traded by the Tigers to the Mets by the deadline last year, Yoenis could bring home the MVP award with ease.
Just how hot was Yoenis after getting traded? In 57 games with the Mets at the end of the regular season, Cespedes hit .287 with 17 home runs and 44 RBI. To put that into perspective, he played 102 games with the Tigers and hit 18 homers and had 61 RBI. He basically matched his production in half the time.
Cespedes finished the season with a career-high 35 homers and 105 RBI with a .291 average. He’s not the kind of player who will ever be a career .300 hitter, but he can punish a baseball better than most.
Next: 3. Miguel Cabrera, Tigers