The Oakland A’s surprising signing

After trading off three All-Star pitchers this offseason, Oakland Athletics General Manager Billy Beane has made a surprising splash in the free agency market landing highly touted 26-year old Cuban outfielder Yoenis Cespedes. 

The Oakland Athletics have signed Cuban sensation Yoenis
Cespedes to a four-year contract. 

Cespedes, a baseball star in his home country comes to Oakland on a four-year, $36 million contract having never played a game at the Major League level. However, the young man has through the roof potential. 

Known as a potential five-tool MLB talent with the ability to hit for average and power, run, play good defense, and carry an above average throwing arm: the sky is the limit for Cespedes. 

Sure the A’s are taking a risk on a guy that has never played baseball in America before but with a low payroll, declining fan-base, and the potential for him to be a star player they could market at a new ballpark a few years down the road, he is much worth the risk. 

Playing at O.Co Coliseum (formerly known as the Oakland Coliseum) the A’s have been unable to sign free agents in years past due to their much outdated stadium. Even when more money and years have been offered (examples Rafael Furcal and Adrian Beltre) players have rejected in the past opting to play in nicer cities and ballparks with more fans and a better supporting cast.

But with Cespedes it is a different case as he is not looking for as many years on the length of his contract and wants to play somewhere where he won’t feel the pressure of having to be an immediate superstar. This is what makes Oakland the perfect landing spot for him. 

If he wanted to, Cespedes could’ve signed a contract to play for the Marlins in Miami, a city with a high Cuban population, however he decided that that was not for him and is joining a team with potential to grow in the future. He now has the chance to be at the face of a franchise should he prove to be the player he’s capable of being. 

A’s fans, there is finally something to be excited about. After watching Beane trade away All-Star pitchers Gio Gonzalez, Trevor Cahill, and Andrew Bailey this offseason, this is a signing to be optimistic about. This signing means the A’s are still trying to assemble at least a respectable team on the field. And who knows maybe three to four years down the road they will be opening up a new ballpark in San Jose with a legitimate star player as the face of their franchise.