The Orioles do not want to pay Chris Davis $200 million or more, and are reportedly getting tired of waiting for the 2015 MLB home run king to come down from his lofty perch. If they can convince free agent outfielder Yoenis Cespedes to take the offer they’ve reportedly extended, the Orioles will have done themselves a service.
Earlier this offseason Baltimore reportedly offered seven years and $150 million to Davis, which he was not interested in. Now, they’ve offered Cespedes five years and somewhere between $75-$90 million. Even at the highest point of that deal, they’d be on the hook for $60 million less and two fewer years than they would’ve been for Davis, and could be getting a superior player.
Why The Market For Yoenis Cespedes Is Ice Cold
Davis slashed .262/.361/.562 with 47 home runs and 100 RBI last year, and he was even better in 2013 when he socked 53 home runs. But Davis’ game has warts. He struck out 208 times in 2015, and 199 times in 2013, and we’ve ignored his horrendous 2014 season where his average dropped to .196, and he only hit 26 homers. His power potential is gargantuan, but the strikeouts and his questionable defense (at third base and outfield – first base he was a positive) lower his value.
Cespedes, on the other hand, has been pure positivity on the field. He carried the Mets to the playoffs, slashing .287/.337/.604 with 17 homers in 57 games, and finished 2015 with 35 home runs. His WAR jumped from 3.3 in 2014 to 6.7 in 2015, largely because he made big strides defensively. Cespedes became a more well-rounded outfielder and even manned center for the Mets, as opposed to just a corner outfielder with a rocket arm.
Five Reasons Chris Davis' Contract Demands Are Insane
Cespedes also comes with baggage off the field. He’s 30 years old, reportedly chain smokes in between innings, and has rubbed coaches the wrong way. Being on four (soon to be five) teams since 2012 is a testament to that. But he’s only a year older than Davis, and has never shown he has a floor as low as Davis’ can be. If Cespedes signs Baltimore’s offer, he could significantly lower Davis’ earning potential.
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