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Marlins president: 'We're not in the market' for Cespedes

Drew Hallowell / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The Miami Marlins failed to sign Yoenis Cespedes when the Cuban defector first fielded offers from MLB clubs in 2011, and team president David Samson indicated a deal won't happen now, either, with the 30-year-old a free agent once again.

"We're not in the market," Samson told reporters Tuesday.

Hours earlier, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports identified the Marlins as one of the teams that had discussed pursuing Cespedes on a short-term deal, but Samson refuted the report, citing an already crowded outfield in Miami. Two of the Marlins' core players - Giancarlo Stanton and Christian Yelich - are already guaranteed spots in the outfield, with Marcell Ozuna poised to patrol center field (even as his name continues to surface in trade rumors) and Ichiro Suzuki providing depth off the bench.

With the Marlins not expected to contend for his services, it remains unclear which teams are interested in Cespedes, who smacked 35 homers with an .870 OPS in 159 games last season. Though the Detroit Tigers had reportedly negotiated with him in recent days, the club's interest likely dissipated Monday after they agreed to a six-year deal with Justin Upton. Similarly, the Baltimore Orioles offered Cespedes a five-year deal worth around $90 million last week, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network, but appear unlikely to sign him after re-signing Chris Davis to a seven-year contract.

Since making his MLB debut with the Oakland Athletics in 2012, Cespedes - who is not attached to draft-pick compensation - owns an .805 OPS (122 OPS+) while averaging 26 homers, 31 doubles and 144 games played per season.

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