METS OUTFIELD DECISION

Yoenis Cespedes turned down, as expected, the 2-year, $47.5 million he had left on his contract with the Mets. Cespedes becomes one of a handful of players that can legitimately be called the best free agent hitter available on the market, and he’s going to almost certainly at least double the dollar figure he turned down. Hell, the 31 year old outfield might even triple it.

Cespedes has hit 35 and 31 homers the last two seasons. The power is legit.

In each of his five years he’s driven in at least 80 runners, and the last two years he’s produced 100 twice (though he was only at 86 last season).

The last two years he’s been a better all-around hitter, no question there, with OPS marks of .870 and .884.

Alas, he doesn’t steal bases anymore, just 17 the last three years, and in three of five seasons he’s missed at least a month of games with no more than 135 games played three times. He also is a terribly flawed player fundamentally, but he is uber-talented and can blast the baseball, and that’s all most teams will care about with Cespedes.

BLUE JAYS DECISIONS

The Jays have two huge bats on the free agent market in Edwin Encarnacion and Jose Bautista. Both men will receive qualifying offers that will be turned down of course ($17.2 million for one year). Jon Heyman is reporting the club would like EE back but that they are “ambivalent” when it comes to Bautista.  

Encarnacion has hit at least 34 homers each of the past five seasons.
Encarnacion has driven in at least 98 runners in each of the past five seasons.
No other player in baseball can match that an only Miguel Cabrera has even done in three times.

Encarnacion will get paid, and get a monster deal.

The case of Bautista is interesting. He has repeatedly said he wants $150 million. As a 36 year old I can’t see that happening, especially given his ill health of late. He’s failed to appear in 120 games in three-of-five seasons and that will certainly depress his contract a bit. Jose also doesn’t produce in the average category with four times in five years that he hasn’t hit .260. Still, he mashes when healthy with 35 homers, 100 RBI and 100 runs scored his last two seasons of 120 games (2014-15). As long as healthy he should continue to mash and draw walks (a .368 career OBP despite a .255 batting average). 

YANKEES DECIDE BEHIND THE PLATE

Brian McCann’s run as the primary catcher with the Yankees is over as Gary Sanchez, duh, has been named the starter for 2017. “Based on his success the past season, Sanchez is the everyday catcher,’’ GM Brian Cashman said. “[McCann] can DH and catch a minimum of two games a week. We have two power-hitting catchers, one right and one left who hit 20 homers.’’

McCann hit 20 homers for the 9th straight season in 2016, and is owed $34 million the next two seasons. There have been rumblings that the Yankees might be looking to deal the 33 year old who has hit 20 homers in 10/11 seasons (missing with 18 in 2007) as he’s just not the hitter he once was. Still, in the fantasy game we will all take a catcher eligible player who hits 20 homers a seasons even if that guy has been under 60 RBI in 2-of-4 seasons and if he is the owner of a sub .245 batting average three straight seasons.

Sanchez was a monster with a .299/.376/.657 line with 20 homers, 42 RBI and 34 runs scored over 53 games last season in a stupendous effort. (1) I will be writing more deeply about Sanchez and his outlook in the 2017 Fantasy Alarm Draft Guide. (2) I feel safe in stating that Sanchez will never again have a 53 game run to match what he did in 2016. He may never be that good over an 83 game stretch for that matter. More to come.

CUBS OUTFIELD DECISION

Dexter Fowler declined his $9 million option to become a free agent. He signed a 1-year deal last year with the Cubs for $8 million in 2016 and will make a ton more than that this offseason. Have to think that the Cubs extend him a qualifying offer, it’s 1-year $17.2 million, but it would be a surprise if someone, Cubs included, didn’t offer him a 3-5 year deal. Fowler has averaged 15 homers, 17 steals and 93 runs scored the last two seasons, and only once in six years has his OBP been below .363 (it was a career best .393 in 2016). The man can get on base.

RAYS NOT INTERESTED IN DEALING LONGORIA

It seems like Evan Longoria, who is due $99 million over the next six years, will remain with the Rays. Longoria, who is just barely 31 years old, is coming off a season with a career best 36 homers and for the third time in four years, and 7th time in nine years, he drove in at least 85 runs (he had 98 RBI). He also batted a four year best at .273 while his .521 SLG was also a four year best. There are sexier names out there in fantasy but this guy just produces, largely because he’s appeared in 160 or more games in 4-straight seasons.

Check out the link to the article for more on Rays such as Chris Archer, Jake Odorizzi, Drew Smyly, Erasmo Ramirez, Brad Miller and Kevin Kiermaier.

ARIZONA ADDS OUTFIELDER

Jeremy Hazelbaker is no longer a Cardinal after he was claimed by the Diamondbacks. Hazelbaker hit .317 with five homers in April and everyone freaked out thinking Hazelbaker was going to be a breakout star in ’16. I didn’t – and I took a lot of heat for my position in the Twitterverse. From his Player Profile on April 12th. “There’s no pedigree. There’s only moderate talent. There’s no conceivable way he plays daily if the Cardinals are healthy. Add that all up and all he’s got is a week of big league success. Maybe he ekes out some value, but it won't be on my team. There's just not enough here for me.” From May 1st on he hit .197/.267/.387 with seven homers. He will vie for a 4th outfield spot with the D’backs.

 

Ray Flowers can be heard Monday/Tuesday and Thursday/Friday, 8 PM EDT, Wednesday 7 PM EDT on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio (Sirius 210, XM 87). You can also hear Ray Sunday nights at 9 PM EDT PM on the channel talking fantasy sports. Follow Ray’s work at Fantasy Alarm and on Twitter (@baseballguys).