Contract Crowdsourcing 2016-17: Yoenis Cespedes

As in other recent offseasons, FanGraphs is once again facilitating this offseason a contract-crowdsourcing project, the idea being to harness the wisdom of the crowds to the end of better understanding the 2016-17 free-agent market. Woefully omitted from the main round of this year’s crowdsourcing ballots was Yoenis Cespedes, who opted out of his contract with the New York Mets this weekend, forgoing $47.5 million over the next two years in order to test the market.

Below is a brief summary of Cespedes’ recent career, plus a link to his ballot.

Yoenis Cespedes (Profile)
Some relevant information regarding Cespedes:

• Has averaged 621 PA and 4.4 WAR over last three seasons.
• Has averaged 4.2 WAR per 600 PA* over last three seasons.
• Recorded a 3.2 WAR in 543 PA in 2016.
• Is projected to record 3.1 WAR per 600 PA**.
• Is entering his age-31 season.
• Made $27.5M*** in 2016, as part of deal signed in January 2016.

*That is, a roughly average number of plate appearances for a starting player.
**Prorated version of 2017 depth-chart projections now available here.
***Including a $17.5M base salary and $10.0M signing bonus.

Click here to estimate years and dollars for Cespedes.