Yankees GM Brian Cashman Details Discussion With Yoenis Cespedes

A report on Tuesday stated that the New York Yankees had at least talked to star free agent left fielder Yoenis Cespedes. 

Yankees GM Brian Cashman Details Discussion With Yoenis Cespedes

On Wednesday, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman clarified the details of the encounter.

“I don’t know if ‘reached out’ would be accurate,” Cashman said at the General Managers Meetings at the Omni Resort & Spa. “I think I passed (one of Cespedes’ agents at Roc Nation) — I don’t even know if there’s a hallway out here. I’ve run into most of the agents walking to and from the hotel lobby. So I run into them, we have a brief chat and we exchange information and who to send the medical key codes on. Cespedes is one of those guys.”

Therefore, the Yankees’ interest in the former Mets slugger seems to be passive for the time being: they have not ruled him out just yet.

Cashman was actually asked directly how interested he is in the 31-year-old Cuban, who hit 31 homers with 86 RBIs and a .280 batting average for the Mets last season.

“I’m certainly just collecting information right now,” Cashman said. “He’s a nice bat in anybody’s lineup. Obviously a very impactful defender and a tremendous bat. Some things might make more sense than others, but we’re going to get access to all the medicals on all the players and as our trade discussions continue it might open up opportunities to explore other avenues.”

Cespedes’ bid price is expected to be over $100 million. He opted out of the final two years and $47.5 million remaining on his Mets contract following the World Series.

Nathan Eovaldi, set to miss all of next year after undergoing his second Tommy John surgery, will not be tendered a contract, Cashman confirmed.

Infielder-outfielder Dustin Ackley, who missed most of 2016 with a right shoulder injury, is another non-tender candidate.

“You’ll have to wait and find out,” Cashman said.