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District On Deck

Washington Nationals Free Agent Target: Yoenis Cespedes

By Ricky Keeler

October 20, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; New York Mets center fielder Yoenis Cespedes (52) hits an RBI single in the seventh inning against the Chicago Cubs in game three of the NLCS at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
October 20, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; New York Mets center fielder Yoenis Cespedes (52) hits an RBI single in the seventh inning against the Chicago Cubs in game three of the NLCS at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports /
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After acquiring former Met Daniel Murphy, could the Nats look to add another former Met in Yoenis Cespedes?

As the Washington Nationals saw firsthand this past season, the New York Mets’ acquisition of Yoenis Cespedes at the trade deadline bolstered their offense to a NL East title and a trip to the World Series. He hit .321 against Washington in eight games with two home runs and seven RBI’s. With Cespedes now a free agent, could Washington make a run at him to try to take two players from the Mets’ offense last season (Nats already signed second baseman Daniel Murphy).

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While the Nationals are not one of the frontrunners for Cespedes as of right now, Jon Heyman of CBS Sports and MLB Network reported yesterday in his Inside Baseball column that the Nats are at least a possibility to land the outfielder who hit .291 with 35 home runs and 105 RBI’s last season with the Mets and the Detroit Tigers. Here is what Heyman wrote in his column:

"“Cespedes, who hits righties as well as lefties, would seem like a potential fit. One Nats-connected person, speaking about the possibility of Cespedes, said, “Probably not, at least not at the moment.” Which doesn’t exactly shut the door on Cespedes.” (h/t Heyman, CBS Sports)"

After being traded to the Mets from the Tigers at the trade deadline, the 30-year-old had a slash line of .287/.337/.604 with 17 home runs and 44 RBI’s in 57 games. If you count his July home run total with the Tigers, his 22 home runs after the All-Star Break were tied with David Ortiz for the fifth most home runs in the game.

Cespedes is one of many outfielders who are still waiting to find their new team as we are now officially in the year 2016. On Tuesday, Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com tweeted that the White Sox were one of the teams interested in Cespedes along with the Baltimore Orioles. However, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported today that Chicago isn’t willing to go beyond three years to sign him or the Royals’ Alex Gordon:

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Since being signed by the Oakland Athletics in February of 2012, the right-handed outfielder has played for four teams (A’s, Red Sox, Tigers, Mets). He has hit 106 home runs in his four seasons in baseball, has made one All-Star Game (2013) and won an AL Gold Glove this season in left field.

While Cespedes does profile more as a corner outfielder than a center fielder, which is what the Nats are looking for, he did play center field for the Mets this past season. He made two errors in 40 games, but he had -4 defensive runs saved (according to Fangraphs), which is tied for the second worst total he has had in center field in his career (-8 with the A’s in 2012). He had 15 runs saved this past season as a left fielder.

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It is interesting that the Nationals are monitoring the situation and they have shown they do have the money to spend on a big time free agent when you consider they tried to get Jason Heyward. However, while it would be a boost for the Nats to get another offensive player from their NL East rivals, the Nats need a center fielder unless they want to move Harper over to center. Unless Cespedes drops his price, I don’t see him landing in DC.

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