Yoenis Cespedes has an option to explore free agency but he’d rather stay with the Detroit Tigers on a long-term deal stating that he wants to win a championship with the squad in Major League Baseball, or MLB.

"This is a good team now and will be for a lot of years to come," Cespedes said during the Lions’ Spring Training in the league’s official website. "Every Major League player wants a ring, and with this team, you have a really good chance."

Cespedes, who is from Cuba, has played for the Oakland Athletics from 2012 to 2014 and the Boston Red Sox last season but was quickly traded by the Red Sox in December of 2014 to the Tigers for Rick Porcello. Cespedes, who will earn over $10 million for the 2015 MLB Season, is set to hit free agency in 2016. Before he landed with the Athletics and made the MLB in 2012, the Tigers were already interested in getting Cespedes.

Cespedes made the MLB All-Star team for the first time in his career in the 2014 season and is the back-to-back Home Run Derby Champion in 2013 and 2014. For his career, Cespedes has a batting average of .263, 425 hits, 71 home runs and 233 RBIs.

Cespedes also had a successful run with the Cuban baseball national team before he played in the MLB. He helped Cuba to gold medals at the 2010 World University Baseball Championship in Tokyo, 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and the 2010 Intercontinental Cup in Taichung, Taiwan. Cespedes and Cuba also won the silver medal at the 2009 Baseball World Cup.

Brad Ausmus, team manager for the Tigers, said he was impressed with Cespedes’ speed around the bases and the Cuban’s overall athleticism.

Email j.gloria@IBTimes.com.au to contact author.

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