Yoenis Cespedes: Oakland A's Reportedly Sign Cuban Outfielder to 4-Year Deal

After it appeared top Cuban prospect Yoenis Cespedes was headed back to the Dominican Republic, the Oakland Athletics have reportedly swooped in and nabbed the coveted five-tool center fielder.

Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports tweeted on Monday:

Cespedes reportedly signed a four-year, $36 million deal.

Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle tweeted on Monday:

Cespedes is a great athlete. He reportedly has run the 60-yard dash in 6.3 seconds and his power is monstrous, with the ability to hit home runs to the opposite field with ease.

Cespedes' agent, Adam Katz, said on Feb.9 that the 26-year-old might return back to the Dominican Republic after meeting with the Miami Marlins, but it appears the Athletics changed his mind.

What It Means

It's unclear as of yet where Cespedes would fit into the Athletics' outfield. They acquired Josh Reddick via a trade with the Boston Red Sox and acquired Seth Smith via a trade with the Colorado Rockies.

In center field, the Athletics have Coco Crisp, who stole 49 bases last season. However, given he's declining at 32 years of age, there is the possibility of Cespedes overtaking him in the starting lineup.

There's also the potential for the Athletics to use both Crisp and Cespedes in the same lineup, with one of them slotted as a designated hitter.

What's Next

It's now time for Cespedes to show Major League Baseball what he can do in spring training.

Cespedes' power is unquestioned. He has a strong upper body and tree-trunk legs, allowing him to drive the ball with great force. His swing is reminiscent of Sammy Sosa's. However, there are concerns with his long swing, which could hurt him as far as batting average.

Cespedes' combination of speed and power is riveting and very few players in the majors compare in that regard. The question is, will he be a great player in the majors or a great athlete?

Only time will tell.