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Yoenis Cespedes opts out: 5 potential destinations

By Joshua Sadlock

May 21, 2016; New York City, NY, USA; New York Mets centerfielder Yoenis Cespedes (52) is congratulated by teammates after hitting a two run home run against the Milwaukee Brewers in the sixth inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports
May 21, 2016; New York City, NY, USA; New York Mets centerfielder Yoenis Cespedes (52) is congratulated by teammates after hitting a two run home run against the Milwaukee Brewers in the sixth inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 1, 2016; Bronx, NY, USA; Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado (13) rounds the bases on his solo home run during the third inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 1, 2016; Bronx, NY, USA; Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado (13) rounds the bases on his solo home run during the third inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Baltimore Orioles

The Orioles offered Cespedes a five-year deal last year in the neighborhood of $90 million. Whether or not that was a ploy to entice Chris Davis to make up his mind more quickly is unclear. Regardless, the Orioles made it clear last year that there has been a shift in the way ownership is willing to attack free agency. This year’s team payroll shattered franchise records, and approached $160 million.

To reach the playoffs for a second straight year in 2017, the Orioles will have to re-sign or replace Mark Trumbo and Matt Wieters. Their homercentric offense will not be able to match 2016 levels without reinforcements, and the pitching staff is not going to receive an upgrade this winter. Trumbo and Wieters were paid roughly $25 million last season, but the majority of that figure may be eaten up by arbitration raises for Manny Machado, Chris Tillman, and Zach Britton.

If the Orioles are serious about continuing to contend in a stacked American League East, they cannot sit on their hands this winter. Trumbo is a candidate to be re-signed, but not a guarantee to return. Peter Angelos cannot allow his team’s rise into the upper levels of payroll to be a one-year phenomenon. With the MASN lawsuit with the Washington Nationals drawing to a close, the billionaire owner does have the resources to add a big piece like Cespedes, but his willingness to do so remains in question.

Cespedes would excel in a corner outfield position in a powerful lineup, and the friendly confines of the American League East’s ballparks are enough to make any hitter drool. For the Orioles, it will all come down to how aggressively their 86-year-old owner wants to spend his money.

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