With the trade deadline approaching who are the top 10 targets for the Angels

Yoenis Cespedes has played for three teams in the past two seasons. Will he be moved again?

Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Yoenis Cespedes –

Cespedes is a highly sought after player who the Angels are well acquainted with from his days as an Oakland A’s outfielder. Cespedes is an emerging star who is  under the age of 30 (29). In his first four season he has hit an average of 23 home runs and driven in an average of 90 runs per year.  His defense is also very well-documented as Cespedes has a .981 fielding percentage and has averaged 11 outfield assists per year. This includes a legendary throw at the Big “A” from the left field corner that travelled over 300 feet in the air to nail the Angels’ Howie Kendrick at home.  Cespedes also has a career batting average of .267 and an OBP of .316. 

So what are the negatives for acquiring Cespedes. First and foremost, he is a free agent at the end of the 2015 season so this may only be a three-month rental situation which would be a high cost for what the Angels would have to give up in prospects to get Cespedes.  Cespedes also has a high strikeout rate as he has whiffed over 100 times in each of his first four seasons while walking an average of only 28 times a season.  Couple that with the fact that there have been rumors of an attitude issue which was said to be one of the reasons that led to the A’s parting ways with him in the middle of the 2014 season. Finally, Cespedes is not left-handed which is what Angels need the most.  

Overall Cespedes could fit in nicely with the Angels and some of the team leaders such as Albert Pujols, Erick Aybar, and Mike Trout probably would command enough respect from Cespedes that his attitude wouldn’t be much of an issue.  His power bat and defense would greatly improve the Angels line-up down the stretch, however I just don’t feel that the rewards outweigh the costs.  I think there are other bats out there that are better options than Cespedes.  GRADE: C+

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