Detroit Tigers Rumors: Nationals want Yoenis Cespedes

CBS Sports baseball inside Jon Heyman reports the Wasington Nationals are interested in Detroit Tigers left fielder Yoenis Cespedes.

After posting losing records in May, June and July, Tigers General Manager Dave Dombrowski is in full sell mode. Detroit traded ace pitcher David Price and closer Joakim Soria in two separate deals on Thursday.

The Tigers best remaining trade piece is Cespedes, and Dombrowski is listening to offers from a few teams.

Washington has been decimated with injuries this season, so Cespedes would be a great addition to their club. He is slashing .293/.323/.506 with 18 home runs and 61 RBI this season. Cespedes went 3-for-5 with a two-run homer in the, 9-8, victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday.

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The 29-year-old has expressed interest in staying in the Motor City, but interestingly, the Tigers might have a better chance of retaining Cespedes for the 2016 season if they trade him.

According to FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal, when Cespedes signed his four-year, $36 million contract with the Oakland Athletics in Feb. 2012, his agent negotiated a clause in the deal that prevents a team from extending a qualifying offer. Therefore, his team will only have a five-day window after the World Series to re-sign him.

If no deal is complete five days after the World Series concludes, Cespedes will not be able to re-sign with that current team until May 15.

If the Tigers trade Cespedes, they won’t be able to negotiate with the left fielder for the rest of the season, but after the five-day window, Detroit will be able to talk to Cespedes like every other team.

Rosenthal also reports that the New York Mets are interested in Cespedes. If true, it sounds like Cespedes could be playing for his first National League team very soon.

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