Report: Cespedes' agent reached out to Yankees

The Yoenis Cespedes sweepstakes has taken another unexpected turn - this time slightly west across the I-278, from Queens to the Bronx.

Sources tell John Harper of the New York Daily News that Cespedes' agents, the Roc Nation group, reached out to the Yankees on Thursday to gauge the club's interest in the heavy-hitting slugger. Cespedes, who's reportedly discussing a three-year pact with the neighboring Mets while also mulling a five-year offer from the Nationals, is said to prefer staying in New York provided he can secure a deal to his satisfaction.

Sources say Cespedes' representatives asked the Yankees if they would be willing to enter the bidding with a three-year offer, though the report characterized the chances of a deal happening between the two sides as unlikely.

"He's played in four cities now," another source told Harper, "and he's told friends that he felt more at home in New York than anywhere else by far. It's a great city for the Latin guys. And he thinks of himself as being the best of the best, like he’s made for New York."

The report comes just days after Yankees managing partner Hal Steinbrenner fueled speculation by offering a cryptic answer to a question about his club's interest in the 30-year-old Cuban.

"I'm comfortable where payroll is right now, but we’re always looking to improve the club," Steinbrenner told reporters. "You never know with us. We’ve surprised people in the past."

ESPN's Buster Olney reported Friday that there's an expectation Cespedes will sign in the next 24-48 hours, with the front-runners believed to be the Mets and Nationals. Though the Mets haven't made an official offer, Olney said the two sides are discussing a three-year deal that includes an opt-out clause after the first year.