It Worked

[Centerfield]

Chris Davis back to the O's.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Orioles have grown "increasingly frustrated" with Chris Davis' contract demands and "might
be close to walking away" but before that they're gonna give him a boat load of moolah!

[Benjamin Grimm]

The only aspect of this story that matters: Are the Orioles still in on Cespedes, or are they no longer in the picture?

[Frayed Knot]

I was surprised to see that Davis has played as many games not at 1B as he has [OF = 29 starts in 2015, 19 in '14; 85 starts at 3B over the years] but that's still not so many that you'd think he and Cespedes would be seen as substitutes for one another and one certainly wouldn't think that Davis's defensive versatility would increase once on the other side of 30 (hits the 3-0 mark in March).

Now if the O's decide that they have money for Davis AND Yo then maybe this changes nothing.
But, absent that, the bottom line here is that this is just one more 7-year deal for a 30 y/o 1B/DH, and it's one for a guy who hasn't exactly been Mr. Consistency: OPS = 827, 1004, 704, 923 [2012-15] which were his only four seasons as a full-time starter. Basically he's Duda in a better HR park only with one drug suspension under his belt and without a 'We Follow' meme attached.

[Edgy MD]

Seven years of Chris Davis is going to be some dramatic stuff. That guy has a WIDE range of outcomes.

He'll surely break Mark Reynolds' single-season strikeout record before he's done. Health-permitting, of course.

[bmfc1]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: The only aspect of this story that matters: Are the Orioles still in on Cespedes, or are they no longer in the picture?

I'm positive that they are "out" which leaves very few opportunities for Yo.

Edited January 16, 2016 by Guest

[Mex17]

bmfc1 wrote: The only aspect of this story that matters: Are the Orioles still in on Cespedes, or are they no longer in the picture? I positive that they are "out" which leaves very few opportunities for Yo.

If that is true, does that mean that the Mets now have more leverage to persuade Cespedes into a longer term commitment as opposed to the "pillow contract" (if that is what the Mets even want to do)?

Two years guaranteed, player option for a third, team options for a fourth and a fifth, $20-22 AAV. That could work.

[Centerfield]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: The only aspect of this story that matters: Are the Orioles still in on Cespedes, or are they no longer in the picture?

Ken Rosenthal says they are likely out and will focus on starting pitching.

Good news I would say.

[Lefty Specialist]

Jeez, if Cespedes crawls back to the Mets for a short-term deal, Sandy should get a gold star. And a raise. My fear with Yo was that a long-term deal would make him fat and complacent, plus we'd be paying for him when he was 35 or so. Short-term deal, he's motivated, and he's younger.

Still think someone else will swoop in and steal him away, though.

[Edgy MD]

The flip side is settling for a contract so downgraded from his expectations might make him bitter and surly. Aloof and misanthropic.

Human resources is tough!

[Lefty Specialist]

[Centerfield]

Beat guys seem to agree that the O's are out. Not sure where this leaves Cespedes.

I wonder if the Mets are really legitimate in their interest to bring back Yo short term, or if they are just floating that out there for PR purposes.

[Zvon]

Lefty Specialist wrote: Jeez, if Cespedes crawls back to the Mets for a short-term deal, Sandy should get a gold star. And a raise. My fear with Yo was that a long-term deal would make him fat and complacent, plus we'd be paying for him when he was 35 or so. Short-term deal, he's motivated, and he's younger. Still think someone else will swoop in and steal him away, though.

AllAthis^

But a 1 yr deal I think we get the same Cespedes as last year. Very good numbers at the plate, afraid to get seriously hurt anywhere else on the field. Go 3 Sandy!

[Ceetar]

Davis will be paid until 2038 with deferrals

[batmagadanleadoff]

bmfc1 wrote: The only aspect of this story that matters: Are the Orioles still in on Cespedes, or are they no longer in the picture? I'm positive that they are "out" which leaves very few opportunities for Yo.

See, this is yet another thing about this that makes no sense to me. If Cespedes is willing to sign a one-year deal, I would think that more, rather than less teams would be interested.

I'm starting to wonder if either Cespedes or his agent is being blackballed perhaps. Because that would make more sense to me than what's being reported.

[Mex17]

batmagadanleadoff wrote: See, this is yet another thing about this that makes no sense to me. If Cespedes is willing to sign a one-year deal, I would think that more, rather than less teams would be interested.

But if the term of years and AAV are comparable across the board, I would think that the Mets then have the advantage over another unknown situation. If that is true, then "more teams" would be of little consequence (unless Oakland, Boston, or Detroit get involved).

[batmagadanleadoff]

Mex17 wrote: batmagadanleadoff wrote: See, this is yet another thing about this that makes no sense to me. If Cespedes is willing to sign a one-year deal, I would think that more, rather than less teams would be interested. But if the term of years and AAV are comparable across the board, I would think that the Mets then have the advantage over another unknown situation. If that is true, then "more teams" would be of little consequence (unless Oakland, Boston, or Detroit get involved).

So you're saying that the Mets wouldn't have to be the highest bidder because he last played for them? Who knows? We'll see. The point I was mainly trying to make, though, is how little interest Cespedes appears to be generating.

[Benjamin Grimm]

‏

Bob Nightengale wrote: @BNightengale The #Mets and #Whitesox each interested in Cespedes if he accepts short-term deal

[Mex17]

batmagadanleadoff wrote: So you're saying that the Mets wouldn't have to be the highest bidder because he last played for them? Who knows? We'll see. The point I was mainly trying to make, though, is how little interest Cespedes appears to be generating.

No. I'm saying that the Mets probably win out is everything is equal (or very close to being equal).

". . .if the term of years and AAV are comparable across the board. . ."

[nymr83]

Ceetar wrote: Davis will be paid until 2038 with deferrals

a gold mine for Baltimore beat writers, assuring themselves something to bitch about for the next 22 years

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

This has to increase the likelihood those Cespedes shirseys turn out to have something beyond curio value for a little longer, granted. But it still feels unlikely.

If he really wants a pillow deal, okay, maybe. But anything beyond that. .. I mean, it's not that the Mets don't win bidding wars... they just don't do bidding wars these days, do they?

[Edgy MD]

Not since "walk-off" has a term seemingly gone from "I've never heard that before" to "Wow, I've heard that 100 times this week" so quickly.

Every day, suddenly, it's pillow deal this and pllow deal that and would you like some pillow deal on your breakfast cereal, Dear?

It's everywhere. It's raining from the ceiling. By Grabthar's hammer, four days ago, I had never heard the term.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Jim Duquette has been using the term on Mets Hot Stove. I wonder if he's the source of this.

[Centerfield]

Lots of consistent reporting out there today.

John Harper at the DN says the price for Cespedes is falling, so the Mets should find a way to get it done.

Jon Heyman on his twitter says there is lots of interest in Cespedes, so there's no chance he'll have to take a short term deal.

Make of it what you will. And as has been the case all winter long, nothing to even suggest the Mets are considering Upton, though he is the best hitter available.

I don't know. I got my hopes up for a bit, but I'm back to feeling like the Mets are not going to do a thing.

[Centerfield]

Lefty Specialist wrote: My fear with Yo was that a long-term deal would make him fat and complacent, plus we'd be paying for him when he was 35 or so.

Let me tell you something son. There are worse things you can be than fat and complacent. And 35? 35 is a baby.

[Lefty Specialist]

When he hits his first home run, then we can talk.

To paraphrase Shakespeare, I like yon outfielders with a lean and hungry look

[nymr83]

Colon may be fat but I don't think he's complacent, he loves the game not just the paycheck.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Centerfield wrote: Make of it what you will.

This has been the strangest pursuit of a big-name free agent that I can remember.

[Mex17]

Centerfield wrote: I'm back to feeling like the Mets are not going to do a thing.

The Mets WILL add one more major league caliber outfielder before Spring Training opens. It will either be Cespedes, Steve Pearce, or Ryan Raburn, mark my words.

I know that there is a huge dropoff between Yo and the other two, but I believe that they will be steadfast in not allowing Eric Campbell to be on the Opening Day roster (barring injury).

[Centerfield]

batmagadanleadoff wrote: Centerfield wrote: Make of it what you will. This has been the strangest pursuit of a big-name free agent that I can remember.

Which makes me wonder if this is a legitimate pursuit at all, or a rumor floated out knowing that it someone else will eventually give him a long-term deal.