WASHINGTON -- The New York Mets are no longer under a strict time constraint to re-sign outfielder Yoenis Cespedes.
General manager Sandy Alderson said Tuesday that Major League Baseball and the Players Association have agreed to allow the Mets to remain a bidder throughout the offseason.
Because Cespedes came from Cuba with significant professional experience, his original agent negotiated a clause in his contract that would make the outfielder a free agent after four years in the majors rather than the customary six years.
However, the mechanism that makes Cespedes a free agent calls for him to be released within five days of the completion of the World Series.
MLB rules prohibit a team from re-signing a player until the following May 15 if he has been released at that point. So without this waiver, the Mets effectively would have been eliminated from re-signing Cespedes once open bidding begins five days after the World Series.
MLB and the union signed off last week on extending Cespedes' eligibility to re-sign with the Mets for the duration of the offseason, since it was in the best interest of Cespedes and the team.
Alderson said the move is not unprecedented, noting that the Kansas City Royals had the right to re-sign Nori Aoki last offseason despite a similar release clause in his contract.
"It's been signed off by all the parties, including the union and Major League Baseball," Alderson said.
Alderson would not address the likelihood of re-signing Cespedes.
Because Cespedes was traded in-season, the Mets will still be unable to make him a qualifying offer as a vehicle to gain a draft pick if he signs elsewhere.
Cespedes has been invaluable to the Mets since being acquired from the Detroit Tigers on July 31 for minor league right-hander Michael Fulmer.
Cespedes entered Tuesday's game against the Washington Nationals hitting .311 with 13 homers and 31 RBIs in 34 games.