By now you have certainly heard of center fielder Yoenis Cespedes, the Cuban defector that -- wait, you haven't? Ok, let's back track for a second; you'll want to take a hour to read (and watch the 20-minute video at the end) Yoenisa Cespedes: The Showcase, 4000 words on the most amazing scouting video I've ever seen by Baseball Prospectus' Kevin Goldstein and The story of Yoenis Cespedes, his $30 million asking price and the best YouTube video in a long time by Jeff Passan of Yahoo!
To recap, we know the 26-year-old is in his prime, plays a premium position with legit 5-tool talent, and can play baseball (that doesn't mean he isn't a risk, though). Reports also indicate he will receive a similar deal to Reds' Aroldis Chapman $30.25 million, which might take out some of the teams that are reportedly interested.
There's only one question: who will land Yoenis Cespedes?
Tim Brown of Yahoo! reports the "list of teams interested in Cespedes - gleaned in part by their presence at workouts" are the Yankees, Phillies, Blue Jays, San Francisco Giants, Marlins, Nationals, Indians, Athletics, Pirates.
Peter Gammons of MLB.com list also includes the Marlins, Phillies, Yankees, Blue Jays, Pirates, Athletics and Indians. But he also adds the Red Sox and Rangers to the teams interested in Cespedes.
Add the Detroit Tigers to the list of teams interested, sources tell Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.
More links after the jump, including direct statements from general managers Brian Cashman, Frank Wren and Brian Sabean on whether or not their club will be in the Yoenis Cespedes Sweepstakes.
Giants:
- will not be involved on Cuban defector Cespedes, general manager Brian Sabean said (via Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News).
Yankees:
- are particularly hot for the 26-year-old, according to Jeff Passan of Yahoo!
- had a private workout with the Yankees today, according to Ben Badler of Baseball America.
- general manager Brian Cashman acknowledged that he has seen the video, but refused to say today whether his club will have interest in Cespedes, writes Marc Carig of the Star-Ledger.
Marlins:
- considered favorites to land the Cuban, an American League source tells Juan C. Rodriguez of the Sun Sentinel.
- are sending a contingent, including owner Jeffrey Loria, to visit Cespedes in the Dominican later this week, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.
- Cespedes will hold a private workout for Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria & Co Thursday in DR (Dominican Republic), adds Juan C. Rodriguez of the Sun Sentinel.
- the Marlins contingent flying to the Dominican consists of club president David Samson, general manager Larry Beinfest, special assistant Tony Perez and manager Ozzie Guillen along with owner Jeffrey Loria, writes Peter Gammons of MLB.com.
- scouted Cespedes' workout on Friday and will take another look later this week, reports Paul Hoynes of the Plain Dealer.
- sent multiple talent evaluators to attend Cespedes' workout Friday in the Dominican Republic, a team official tells Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post.
- are checking into Cespedes but he's not likely to come into play for them GM Frank Wren says (via David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution).
- One source tells Peter Gammons of MLB.com that the Red Sox are "sending everyone" to the Dominican.
- are very intrigued by Cespedes, according to Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune. Rogers adds the Cuban CF "could become their free-agent priority this time around, if homework checks out."