NEW YORK (AP) – Yoenis Cespedes is back with the New York Mets to beef up their offense – for one full season, at least.
Cespedes and the NL champion Mets completed a $75 million, three-year contract Tuesday night that gives the slugging outfielder a chance to terminate the deal following the 2016 World Series.
The team announced the move four days after the sides agreed to terms, pending a physical. The 30-year-old Cespedes gets a $10 million signing bonus and a $17.5 million salary this year. He receives a full no-trade provision and the opportunity to hit the open market again next offseason, when it appears the class of free-agent outfielders will be much thinner than this year.
“I loved my experience with the Mets last season,” Cespedes said in a statement. “In a short period of time, my teammates and the fans made New York feel like home, and I truly felt embraced by the entire organization. As I entered free agency, I couldn’t deny the pull to come back and finish what we had started last year.”
Cespedes helped power New York to its first pennant in 15 years after he was acquired from Detroit minutes before the July 31 trade deadline. He had 17 home runs, 44 RBIs and a .942 OPS in 57 games with the Mets, winning over fans and new teammates almost immediately.