Mets sign Yoenis Cespedes to 3-year, $75 million deal

After what appeared to be a longshot, slugging outfielder Yoenis Cespedes is close to returning to the New York Mets, according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports. Jon Heyman of CBS Sports has said that a deal is done between the two sides.

So full Cespedes deal with #Mets, per sources: Three years, $75M, full no-trade clause, opt-out after one year. Pending physical.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 23, 2016

Source: Cespedes deal with #Mets includes no-trade clause. Had higher offers. Pending physical. @Jonheyman and @JimBowden_ESPN on it.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 23, 2016

Cespedes was mulling over offers from the Washington Nationals and the New York Mets, where he expressed a desire to stay. The Nationals were offering Cespedes a deal in the five year range, and around $100 million. Cespedes appears to have left money on the table in order to return to the Mets.

The opt-out should leave Cespedes as the top outfield free agent next year, were he to choose to re-enter the free agent market. The AAV on the deal is $25 million, which is higher than the $22 million that Cespedes was seeking early in the winter. If Cespedes does opt-out, he will be paid $27.5 million in 2016.

In 57 games with the Mets, Cespedes hit .287 with a .337 on-base percentage with 17 home runs and 44 RBI's.