Report: Mets agree to 3-year, $75M deal with Cespedes

The New York Mets reeled in the biggest fish left on the open market Friday, reaching an agreement with outfielder Yoenis Cespedes on a three-year, $75-million deal, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.

Rosenthal says the deal also contains an opt-out after one year and a no-trade clause, and is pending a physical.

The contract won't include any deferred money, a source told Rosenthal.

If the Cuban slugger opts out of the contract, Jon Heyman reports his one-year salary would be $27.5 million, which would be the second-highest average annual value in baseball history for a position player.

According to multiple sources, Cespedes had higher offers from other clubs, but decided to return to the Mets.

Mets manager Terry Collins had nothing but praise for Cespedes prior to him agreeing to his new deal.

"His pregame routine is off the charts," Collins told reporters Thursday. "He has things that he does right before a game in the batting cage. ... When he walks onto that field, he's legit.

"I've been around a lot of great players. I've seen a lot of great players. This guy, just strictly tools, the five tools - he's got 'em all."

The 30-year-old slugger - who was seeking a six-year deal at $22 million per season - was reportedly deciding between a five-year offer from the Washington Nationals, a three-year deal from the Chicago White Sox, and a return to the Big Apple, where he helped guide the Mets to their first World Series appearance since 2000 last season.

Cespedes was in high demand after hitting .291/.328/.542 with 35 home runs and 105 RBIs while earning 6.6 WAR split between the Mets and Detroit Tigers in 2015.