Yoenis Cespedes Signs with Oakland A's: Why He'll Be Perennial MLB All-Star

In a surprise turn of events, Yoenis Cespedes has signed a four-year, $36 million deal with the Oakland Athletics, according to ESPN's Buster Olney.

That after the Marlins appeared to be the front runners following a Wednesday meeting and tour of their new stadium in his first meeting with any teams since gaining residency.

This move likely caps a very active offseason for Oakland, as the team dealt starting pitchers Trevor Cahill, Gio Gonzalez, Guillermo Moscoso, Josh Outman and closer Andrew Bailey in moves that have helped replenish a fairly thin farm system and also returned some young players who will contribute immediately.

Due to the fact that they are still rebuilding and not expected to contend in 2012, Cespedes will likely open the season in the minors as the team gives him some time to settle in to life in the States.

The A's have already addressed their outfield situation this season in trading for Seth Smith (Rockies) and Josh Reddick (Red Sox) as well as bringing back free agent Coco Crisp on a two-year, $14 million deal.

However, those three won't stop the team from inserting Cespedes into an everyday role as soon as he proves ready to contribute at the big-league level, and there seems to be little question that will be sometime in 2012.

Coming off a season in which he hit .333/.424/.667, 33 HR, 99 RBI, 89 R over just 90 games worth of at-bats, it is clear why there was so much buzz surrounding the 26-year-old outfielder's move to the MLB.

But the big question is, how will that translate to the MLB game?

Cespedes is in top physical shape, as evidenced by the ridiculous workouts in his now-infamous showcase video. With great bat speed and quick hands, his power certainly looks like it should translate to the next level.

He performed well against top-tier competition in the 2009 World Baseball Classic, hitting .458 with a double, three triples, two HR and five RBI in six games. Although that is a small sample size, performance in the WBC has been a barometer with which international prospects are gauged in recent years, and those numbers are hard to ignore.

He is a flashy player and plays with a swagger that will likely make him someone that fans either love or hate. If nothing else, that will keep him in the headlines and make him the most interesting player in Oakland.

Chances are his numbers won't be quite as eye-popping as his 2011 Cuban League stat line, but once he settles into the Athletics outfield, there is no reason to think he can't be a .300 BA, 25 HR, 90 RBI guy with potential for more.

With little to be excited about in Oakland over the past few seasons, he not only gives the fanbase something to get excited for this coming season, but could very well be the most productive hitter in the lineup by the second half of the season.

The fact of the matter is, every team needs an All-Star representative, and if Cespedes' talents translate to the big-league level like they should, he is the most talented hitter on the team and a likely candidate to make at least a handful of All-Star appearances.

In fact, if he manages to break camp with the team, there is a decent chance he is representing the team in Kansas City this year.

There is still reason to think he could be a bust after he struggled in the Dominican Winter League, but at the end of the day I think he has the tools and the confidence to be a success at the major-league level.