The Mets are interested in signing free agent Yoenis Cespedes to a new deal sooner rather than later, and the outfielder’s camp also would like to hammer out a deal — wherever he winds up — by early December.
According to a source, the Mets are one of four teams in serious pursuit of Cespedes, who opted out of the final two years of the deal worth $47.5 million he signed with the Mets last offseason and then declined the Mets $17.2 million qualifying offer.
Given his desire to finalize a new contract — as well as the fact that Cespedes is at or near the top of available sluggers on the market — a repeat of last year’s prolonged negotiations appears unlikely, especially with the winter meetings approaching in the first week of next month.