Yoenis Cespedes Rumors: Handicapping Every Suitor's Latest Odds

Usually, the end of January is about when teams are pretty much done with free agency and are only making final tweaks to their roster. even with Prince Fielder waiting a while to sign, most marquee free agents have been signed now.

However, with the various issues surrounding Yoenis Cespedes, he has just been officially declared a free agent recently, and there are a fair number of teams looking to pick him up.

Which teams have no chance whatsoever, who are the dark horses and which team has the best chance of acquiring Cespedes?

30. San Francisco Giants

The San Francisco Giants spent most of their offseason trading for outfielders already, and any free money they have left will be used on Tim Lincecum. It's actually a good fit, and they would have been higher had he immediately been a free agent, but it won't happen.

Odds: Zero

29. Cincinnati Reds

By trading away all their prospects, the Cincinnati Reds made it clear that they want to win now. More importantly, they aren't going to sign anyone long-term, certainly not several years past when Joey Votto becomes a free agent.

Odds: Zero

28. Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pittsburgh Pirates have been somewhat active in free agency this year, but it's clear that the outfield is the strong area of their game, with Jose Tabata and Andrew McCutchen. They aren't going to add more there when other spots need work first.

Odds: Zero

27. Houston Astros

The Houston Astros already have a few big contracts they are looking to get rid of, and they are rebuilding on top of that through prospects. Adding another long deal is the last thing they're going to do this year.

Odds: Zero

26. Oakland Athletics

The Oakland Athletics always keep their payroll near the bottom of the league and get their prospects through trades. Signing one long-term is not going to be in their plans.

Odds: Zero

25. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

The Angels went for the kill this offseason, signing Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson on an already fairly loaded roster. They're not going to add a player who might be good alongside the gems.

Odds: Zero

24. Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers are out of the race like their crosstown counterparts, but for an entirely different reason. After the Matt Kemp extension and the ownership issue this offseason, they don't really have the time or money to take on any serious projects right now.

Odds: Zero

23. Arizona Diamondbacks

After acquiring Jason Kubel in free agency, the Arizona Diamondbacks have too many players at the outfield position, if anything. Adding a fifth potential starter would just be silly.

Odds: Zero

22. St. Louis Cardinals

Like the Diamondbacks, the Cardinals are well stocked at the outfield position, especially with the addition of Carlos Beltran. There's nowhere to put Cespedes even if they did want him.

Odds: Zero

21. San Diego Padres

The Padres would actually be a nice fit for Cespedes, as he could slide right into a corner outfield spot and produce immediately. Having said that, the Padres don't have the payroll to even try to acquire him.

Odds: Zero

20. Tampa Bay Rays

Like the Padres, this could be a good fit for Cespedes, since they could have Matt Joyce DH and plug in the five-tool player alongside Sam Fuld and B.J .Upton. Also like the Padres, they don't have the resources to make that move.

Odds: Zero

19. Milwaukee Brewers

Whether or not Ryan Braun actually sits out 50 games is irrelevant in this case, since Braun and Corey Hart have the corner outfield spots down pat. There's nowhere for Cespedes to fit in unless they put him at first, rendering his five-tool skill set useless.

Odds: Zero

18. Kansas City Royals

The Royals could feasibly plug in Cespedes in center field to replace Melky Cabrera, but given all their farm talent ready to make their presence known, I don't see them adding in anyone else.

Odds: Zero

17. Colorado Rockies

While the Rockies have been looking to shop Seth Smith, they did acquire Michael Cuddyer this offseason, so as a result I don't see them adding in Cespedes anywhere.

Odds: Zero

16. Atlanta Braves

The Atlanta Braves seem to have a solid outfield, though they are looking to trade Martin Prado and upgrade with a natural outfielder. Given all their prospects, this is the first team I feel comfortable giving any odds whatsoever to, even though they're the longest of long shots.

Odds: 1,000 to 1

15. Boston Red Sox

Because J.D. Drew is likely going to retire, it's not out of the question for the Red Sox to be taking a bit of a look at Cespedes. They won't be in the running, but I'm sure the possibility of acquiring him has crossed their minds this offseason.

Odds: 800 to 1

14. Texas Rangers

The Texas Rangers could feasibly plug Cespedes in at center field, giving them a five-tool player to go with a mostly power lineup. They spent most of their money on Yu Darvish already, so adding in another foreign big name would be a big risk.  However, that doesn't mean there's no chance.

Odds: 700 to 1

13. Seattle Mariners

While the Seattle Mariners outfield has Franklin Gutierrez and Ichiro Suzuki already, adding Cespedes may not be a bad move, as it gives them another dimension.

The type of player they need in the lineup, however, isn't what Cespedes is, so it's a big longshot; they might come in it late just because they missed out on Prince Fielder.

Odds: 500 to 1

12. New York Mets

The New York Mets sent Angel Pagan out and no longer has Carlos Beltran, meaning that the opportunity is definitely there for Cespedes to start immediately and help carry the team.

Having said that, they're still dealing with Jason Bay's contract in the corner outfield spot, and GM Sandy Alderson seems to be iffy about acquiring anyone after the Fausto Carmona incident right now. Still, that could be a strange diversion for all we know.

Odds: 400 to 1

11. Minnesota Twins

I'm surprised that there's no discussion whatsoever with the Twins and Cespedes, since on the surface it looks like a great fit. Delmon Young and Michael Cuddyer are gone, leaving fairly gaping holes in the corner outfield spots.

The addition of Cespedes could help them bounce back from a terrible 2011, so I think they could be a secret dark horse team—even if no one else anywhere is combining these two.

Odds: 300 to 1

10. Washington Nationals

The Nationals signed a corner outfielder in Jayson Werth last year that didn't work out, so they would be ambivalent about picking up Cespedes. Still, they're always in free agent talks, seemingly as a rule, and have to be in the top 10.

The top 10 teams, realistically, are the only 10 in the running for Cespedes—with the Nationals on the outside track—since if they were really interested in him, we would know about it.

Odds: 100 to 1

9. Baltimore Orioles

Perhaps it's a surprise that I'm putting one of the six frontrunners in already. the Orioles could definitely put him into their lineup immediately, and he would boost their farm system.

Here's the thing though. They've been in talked with players left and right all offseason, yet never pulled the trigger on any of them. I see them as a smokescreen, a team being thrown in to throw others off; they won't make a serious offer.

Odds: 80 to 1

8. Philadelphia Phillies

The Philadelphia Phillies already made a few big moves this offseason, so the odds of them really geting Cespedes are slim. Still, they are considered a potential longshot for a reason.

With Raul Ibanez entering free agency and not likely to return, there's a spot at left field that Cespedes can jump right in. They have enough power in the lineup so he can work his way into being a star, just as long as he can do it in a season since they want to win now.

Odds: 75 to 1

7. Detroit Tigers

After the signing of Prince Fielder, I had to decide how far to knock down the Tigers on the Cespedes sweepstakes rankings, since a lot of their money was now gone. They fell all the way to seventh.

That's right, even with the signing of Fielder, the Tigers still can't be counted out. Cespedes can take over where Magglio Ordonez was in the outfield, and he provides further help with the loss of Victor Martinez, even though they may have no room for Cespedes without trading someone.

Odds: 50 to 1

6. Toronto Blue Jays

Putting a guy like Cespedes across from Jose Bautista would make the Toronto Blue Jays a force to be reckoned with in the AL East. They are considered a longshot like the Nationals, but they have been discussed.

I think that he fits better with what the Blue Jays have than with some other teams, plus they did almost acquire Yu Darvish, so they're willing to spend the money. They're the longshot I feel most comfortable about, with one exception.

Odds: 25 to 1

5. New York Yankees

While the New York Yankees are technically considered a longshot, you can never really count them out of anything, especially given the skill set that Yoenis Cespedes has.

The Yankees have a stocked outfield already, but they could easily move Nick Swisher to DH, or move other positions around as needed to fit in Cespedes. They obviously have the funds as well, so don't be surprised if they make a late charge.

Odds: 20 to 1

4. Chicago White Sox

The Chicago White Sox have been unpredictable this offseason as it is, so signing Cespedes feels like it would make sense. Add in their lack of an outfield due to trading Carlos Quentin and losing Juan Pierre, and he would fit right in.

However, the White Sox have their hands in all the recent Cuban prospects, and did in fact sign Dayan Viciedo not that long ago. I see them picking at least one up this offseason, but it may be more likely to be another prospect rather than Cespedes. Still, the top four are all likely destinations.

Odds: 5 to 1

3. Cleveland Indians

The Indians have certainly had the quietest free agency of the top four teams, but perhaps they were biding their time for the right free agent; Cespedes would certainly be that.

While they have Shin-soo Choo in right field, Cespedes could easily grab one of the other two spots. He would also provide some pop with his bat. Besides, if the Indians were serious about winning, which it seemed like they were with the Ubaldo Jimenez trade, then this is the next step.

Odds: 4 to 1

2. Miami Marlins

Logan Morrison noted that Yoenis Cespedes would be a big risk for the Marlins. I found the saying to be very fitting for a number of reasons.

Risk has been the name of the game for the Marlins this offseason, seeing as how they picked up Jose Reyes. If he's major league ready sooner rather than later, it's tough to say where he would end up fitting in; heck, Morrison might be the one on the trading block if that happens.

Odds: 3 to 1

1. Chicago Cubs

While it's not certain that they're going to end up with him, I feel comfortable saying that the Chicago Cubs are the most likely destination for Cespedes.

They are rebuilding, and he can be an instrumental part of that. He can fit right in the outfield alongside Alfonso Soriano and Marlon Byrd, and he may be able to make the rest of the team better without the Cubs (hopefully) having to spend an obscene amount.

Odds: 2 to 1