Cuban Players Defectors

[Agente Libre]

An ESPN reporter mentioned on Twitter yesterday that Jose Julio Ruiz is now in the D.R. pursuing free agency.

Like Aroldis Chapman, Ruiz is being represented by amateurs. Ruiz left Cuba in early February and then wasted 5-plus months in Miami.

[J.P]

I just saw an article by Jorge Aranguren where it says that JJ Ruiz is represented by Prestige Management Firm, a firm formed by a group of South Florida friends including Jorge Toca, some of their other clients include: Yadil Mujica, Adalberto Ibarra, Joan Chaviano, Luis Fonseca, Israel Soto, Mayke Reyes, Reinier Roll, and now Felix Perez too.

In another article, a El Nuevo Herald reporter called the Baseball Players Association and they confirmed that Edwin Leonel Mejia is not registered as an agent with them.

[emanuelsaavedra]

Like I said, I really hope that this guy turns out to be a great agent, I just dont think that its worth taking the risk. The with Ruiz, do you mean that he is represented by Toca, because if he is, the Ruiz is dumber than Chapman. I am sorry but ball players in Cuba are not known for being very smart, thus I would not want to put my future in the hands of someone who was passed through school because they could hit a ball

[Paula59]

articel and video about Aroldis Chapman on espn http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4381376

[J.P]

Deinys Suarez has been declared a FA and according to his agent, he is hitting 94 on the radar gun. Also, Martin Dihigo's grandson of the same name has arrived in Miami, he is 21 years old and went through the EIDE and ESPA in Cuba but since turning 18 hes been kept in the reserve list for Industriales and was never able to make the team due to his dad's (Gilberto) defection and critical articles regarding the Cuban sports system.

[Agente Libre]

The Dihigo story is interesting, while the Deinys Suarez story seems farfetched. Suarez was a stud until 2006, but he's been hurt and ineffective since then, with ERAs in the 5.00 to 6.50 range. I doubt he suddenly got healthy after leaving Cuba.

[J.P]

And according to terrenodepelota.com, Leslie Anderson was arrested by Cuban state police because they became aware of his plan to either leave the country ilegally or defect during the upcoming World Cup.

[Richard]

Any Chapman news? Kind of quiet.

[Agente Libre]

I've heard/read nothing on Chapman since the ESPN articles/TV segment, and a story in the El Nuevo Herald by Jorge Ebro, two weeks ago.

Chapman's agent told some people he expected to have news about Chapman's residency that same week as the ESPN reports, but two weeks later there's been no news, or at least no announced news.

[emanuelsaavedra]

I doubt that there will be any significant news on chapman until the season is over and free agency starts. Then You will get tired of hearing about him

[CameronCrazies]

This is the 2,000th post in this thread. That's amazing.

It's too bad "Cubano" won't come back. His contributions are missed.


What happened to Cubano? I would like to see him back and commenting.

[J.P]

What happened to Cubano? I would like to see him back and commenting.

I think he had a misunderstanding with the administrator.

[J.P]

I doubt that there will be any significant news on chapman until the season is over and free agency starts. Then You will get tired of hearing about him

Unless hes already been declared a FA by then, I doubt you'll hear much about him.

[emanuelsaavedra]

Unless hes already been declared a FA by then, I doubt you'll hear much about him.

I doubt that with his talent and how coveted I believe he would be, that he would have any issues getting his paperwork done and being declared a free agent. I mean his agent would have to be a complete moron to not be able to buy him the papers somewhere in latin america.

[J.P]

I doubt that with his talent and how coveted I believe he would be, that he would have any issues getting his paperwork done and being declared a free agent. I mean his agent would have to be a complete moron to not be able to buy him the papers somewhere in latin america.

Its not as easy as it once was.

[Agente Libre]

The Chapman situation seems like a clear case of a new agent being in over his head. Chapman defected around July 1 and, from media reports, he was able to defect with his passport. But here we are, 60 days later, and still no news regarding his residency papers.

[emanuelsaavedra]

Its not as easy as it once was.

I understand that the whole thing has gotten a lot more complicated nowadays. However, from experience I can tell you that Latin America has gotten much more corrupt not less. Specially when it comes to politics (Latin American politics is what I am studying) there is just as much, if not more corruption now in latin america as in the past. This is the reason why I complained about Chapman's agent when he signed. This guy does not have the capital or the connections to move hands in the region. An experienced agent has the connections and in the worst case scenario, the money to make things work. What do you think?

[Agente Libre]

I agree 100%. However, it's not a matter of money as much as it's having good connections. It might be easy to buy fake papers in Latin America, but with the very stringent investigations by MLB and the U.S. government, fake papers won't work anymore. But since Chapman is Edwin Leonel Mejia's first Cuban client -- and maybe first client, period -- he probably doesn't have many good foreign government contacts.

In any event, Chapman escaped 9 weeks ago, *with* his passport, and yet there's been no news.

[Cubano100%]

Kendry has broken two Angels' records.

http://cubanballplayers.blogspot.com/

[emanuelsaavedra]

guys, any news on Yasser or Marti? I heard that they became free agents a few weeks ago, I dont understand why they are not getting any interest from any teams out there. More than plenty of teams in the playoff hunt are looking for pitching, and teams like the Marlins and others are desperate for some hitting which Yasser can provide. Any news?

[Agente Libre]

Marti and Gomez haven't played in an actual baseball game in 16 months. Despite the ESPN.com report last month, there was never any chance Marti or Gomez were going to play in the majors this year, let alone for a team heading to the playoffs.

That aside, I heard Marti pulled a groin muscle at a workout last month, while Gomez was only so-so (and Juan Yasser Serrano, who is also a free agent now, looked even worse).

I have a lot of respect for both Marti and Gomez, but they left their best years in Cuba. Both players are 29-30 years old and coming off injuries, so I doubt they'll get big money from MLB. My guess is they'll sign minor league contracts in time for 2010 spring training, with invitations to their team's major league spring training. (Or, maybe major league contracts for around the minimum, with incentives.)

[Agente Libre]

Kendry has broken two Angels' records.

http://cubanballplayers.blogspot.com/

Holy smokes ... Is our old amigo back?

[J.P]

For those who live in Miami, on Sunday at Tamiami Park at 10 am they are having sort of an Exiled Players Baseball Game, the rosters are a who is who of cuban players in exile (minus those active right now, of course), I plan on going, go to this website for rosters and other info:

www.baseballmiami.com

[Mischa]

Cuban refugee Maikel Hurtado (http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Maikel_Hurtado) made Sweden's final roster for the 2009 World Cup.

[Cubano100%]

I think he had a misunderstanding with the administrator.

It is impossible to write about Cuban players without mentioning a political reality. How can I comment about my boy from my hometown team, Leslie Anderson, without making a reference to the government. This forum has a policy which I must obey.

I am also very busy myself. I read what you guys post.


By the way, how about Mr. Sanit?
http://cubanballplayers.blogspot.com/2009/09/despite-all-wounds-this-ex-lion-is.html

[J.P]

It is impossible to write about Cuban players without mentioning a political reality. How can I comment about my boy from my hometown team, Leslie Anderson, without making a reference to the government. This forum has a policy which I must obey.

I am also very busy myself. I read what you guys post.


By the way, how about Mr. Sanit?
http://cubanballplayers.blogspot.com/2009/09/despite-all-wounds-this-ex-lion-is.html

Yeah, I dont think anybody expected Sanit to reach AAA.

[Cubano100%]

J.P.


I sent you a PM here. If you go to the game, I need a small favor from you.

[jalbright]

It is impossible to write about Cuban players without mentioning a political reality. How can I comment about my boy from my hometown team, Leslie Anderson, without making a reference to the government. This forum has a policy which I must obey.

I am also very busy myself. I read what you guys post.

I understand that when we talk about current Cuban players, some references to the political situation are hard to avoid. I'm quite willing to allow some room for such references. That said, some discussions go further down that path than I'm willing to allow. I'm trying to reach a balance between the "baseball only" rule of the site (which IMHO exists for sound reasons) and the realities of discussing Cuban players in the Castro era. I may not always please folks with how I try to reach that balance, and I'm sure I cannot please everyone no matter how I approach it. If I warn people about political references in a thread and you think I'm wrong, I'm willing to listen as to why you think I've drawn the line in the wrong place--so long as you recognize such a line will be drawn to prevent this from becoming a forum for discussion of Cuban/American politics. I may change my mind on a particular case after hearing your side, and I may not.

[Cubano100%]

A pitcher and 3B say left Cuba and many more to come looking for their freedom and the George Washingtons $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.

http://cubanballplayers.blogspot.com/2009/...-left-cuba.html

[Cubano100%]

Morales is close to be in a class by himself

http://cubanballplayers.blogspot.com/2009/09/morales-is-close-to-be-in-class-by.html

[emanuelsaavedra]

nice to see kendry doing a little bit better. Pin hit homer 2 days ago and 4 hits yesterday. It seems like he may right the ship and get a decent month under him. Still, shame he is not eligible for ROY because he would get it. Then, I saw tim Kurkjian yesterday in ESPN say that Chapman is getting all his stuff taken care of in Andorra and shoul be eligible by the FA signing period. Anyone can confirm this please?

[Cubano100%]

Yasser Gomez signed in the D.R.
http://cubanballplayers.blogspot.com/2009/10/yasser-gomez-signed-with-dominican-team.html

[titorondon]

Reportedly, Santiago SS Adeimis Hecheverria, left Cuba.

[Paula59]

Video Aroldis Chapman entrena en Madrid

http://www.cubaencuentro.com/es/multimedia/videos/aroldis-chapman-entrena-en-madrid

[Cubano100%]

Iglesias
http://cubanballplayers.blogspot.com/2009/10/jose-iglesias-impresses-in-his-first.html

[Paula59]

Chapman arrived in New York for negoations

Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman’s stay in Europe is soon to come to an end. A few weeks after establishing residency in Andorra to become a free agent, the left-hander arrived in New York on Wednesday, starting negotiations over a contract with a Major League organization. The New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox among a bunch of other teams already have expressed interest.

The 21-year-old Chapman, who throws up to 102 MPH, defected from the Cuban national team shortly before the start of the World Port Tournament in Rotterdam, Netherlands this July. He went to Spain and was working out there since then. He hopes to receive a similar contract to the one Jose Contreras signed in 2002. He got $32 million for four years from the Yankees after a bidding war with the Red Sox. It is expected that Chapman would need some time in the Minor Leagues before pitching in the MLB.

[emanuelsaavedra]

guys any news on anyone interested in yadel marti or yasser gomez. I know that everyone and their dogs is interested in signing Chapman (heck the marlins are interested in actually paying him :-) ). However I have not heard anything in regards to gomez or marti. I actually think that they would be a better option for the marlins. They are still high name players in cuba who will put cuban butts on the seats of their new stadium, and require a much smaller salary. Heck with what they would pay chapman in a month they could pay both of these guys for a whole year. I think that gomez would be a useful 4th OF and marti a good reliever maybe 5th Starter.

[Mischa]

guys any news on anyone interested in yadel marti or yasser gomez. I know that everyone and their dogs is interested in signing Chapman (heck the marlins are interested in actually paying him :-) ). However I have not heard anything in regards to gomez or marti. I actually think that they would be a better option for the marlins. They are still high name players in cuba who will put cuban butts on the seats of their new stadium, and require a much smaller salary. Heck with what they would pay chapman in a month they could pay both of these guys for a whole year. I think that gomez would be a useful 4th OF and marti a good reliever maybe 5th Starter.

Marti has been doing very well in the Dominican League. I think he's a reasonable shot for many teams. As for Gomez, his poor play in international competitions and his usual below-.400 slugging percentages would scare off many teams and he's going to be 30 by the time the season starts. The one positive was his big 2007-2008 season but otherwise, I think he's much less intriguing than someone like Juan Carlos Linares, Yudil Mujica or Sergio Espinosa.

[emanuelsaavedra]

Guys at what point do a team like the Marlins start to look into "real" cuban players. By that I mean players that actually cubans know of inside of Cuba. I mean they do after all have a fan base to please and who would I am sure like to see cuban players on the field. I understand that they have a nucleous and you dont want to mess with that, but there are guys like Linares, Mujica, the guy from Santiago who just defected. I mean there are players out there that they can sign for small salaries and that in a couple of years be in the majors being a real help to the team and drawing to the stadium. What do you all think.

[Agente Libre]

It's not a bad idea on its face, but (1) the Marlins aren't big spenders, and (2) there's a school of thought that putting recently arrived Cuban players in Miami isn't a great idea because of all the potential distractions.

In some ways, I believe the Marlins are more worried about the impact of signing Cubans rather than the impact of not signing them. That is, if the Marlins sign Mujica to play SS and then he hits .220 and the Marlins get rid of him, now the Marlins' Cuban fans might be even more mad than if the Marlins hadn't signed Mujica at all.

Personally, I believe it would take a special Cuban player(s) to succeed in Miami straight out of Cuba. A guy like El Duque probably would have done great, and maybe a guy like Danys Baez could do well there now, but the younger, more immature guys would face a lot of distractions.

[emanuelsaavedra]

That is why I liked the idea of signing Gomez or Marti rather than anyone else. They are both older guys that have been around a lot longer, playing under pressure, and neither would be a full time starter on the team. Marti has proven that he can keep his cool under the hottest lights before. Also, please correct me if Im wrong, but wouldnt a young guy go straight into the minors, where the team could evaluate if he can be a good player or not. I just think that they have to do something to get people into the seats, and most cubans would if not anything else be intrigued to see one of their own. I just think that there are plenty of cheap options for them to sign and keep in the minors untill absolutely sure that they can come up and perform. I think that in they eyes of the fans it would be better to try and fail than to not try at all. Please comment on what you all think

[Cubano100%]

RHP Yadel Marti continued his impressive Dominican campaign today. I also have a video from SS Yadil Mujica who is a free agent.

http://cubanballplayers.blogspot.com/2009/...ext-alexei.html

[Agente Libre]

That is why I liked the idea of signing Gomez or Marti rather than anyone else. They are both older guys that have been around a lot longer, playing under pressure, and neither would be a full time starter on the team. ...

The problem with this idea is what I mentioned above: If the Marlins sign fringe Cuban players like Marti or Gomez and then have to release them because of poor performance, the Cuban community won't be happy with the team.

If the Marlins are going to sign Cuban players, their best bets would be older guys like Danys Baez or Contreras (the 2002 version; not the 2009 version) *or* younger guys who are definite major league players.

[Mischa]

The problem with this idea is what I mentioned above: If the Marlins sign fringe Cuban players like Marti or Gomez and then have to release them because of poor performance, the Cuban community won't be happy with the team.

If the Marlins are going to sign Cuban players, their best bets would be older guys like Danys Baez or Contreras (the 2002 version; not the 2009 version) *or* younger guys who are definite major league players.

Wouldn't Marti qualify as an older guy (30) who is non-fringe? He routinely was in the top 10 in ERA in Cuba and was a frequent national team member.

[Agente Libre]

Wouldn't Marti qualify as an older guy (30) who is non-fringe? He routinely was in the top 10 in ERA in Cuba and was a frequent national team member.

My amigo "Cubano" might hate me for saying this, but in my opinion, Marti is solidly in the "fringe" category. His last 2-3 years in Cuba were mediocre and injury-plagued, and while his ERA in the D.R. winter league is OK, he's only struck out 5 in 19.2 innings, for a K/9 rate of 2.25. (It's generally accepted that a K/9 rate of 6 or greater is needed to succeed in MLB.)

From what I can tell, there's almost no MLB interest in Marti. (And it appears Marti is getting desperate. If you look at the Licey Tigers' site, Marti and/or the Tigers are lying about his age now. His DOB is listed as 1984 instead of 1979.)

Marti is another guy who left way too late. He would have gotten $10 million or more right after the 2006 WBC, but now he'll be lucky to even appear in an ML game, let alone make millions.

[Mischa]

Didn't the Marlins sign Orestes Destrade back when they were first an expansion team?

[Agente Libre]

I believe so, but I also believe he left Cuba as a child. Livan is the biggest-name Cuban with the Marlins and, in some ways, it might be his fault the Marlins are so gun-shy with Cubans. If Livan had been a little more mature, we might be seeing more Cuban players with Florida.

[Cubano100%]

Noel Arguelles video
http://cubanballplayers.blogspot.com/2009/11/lhp-noel-arguelles-is-my-thirteenth.html

[emanuelsaavedra]

I believe so, but I also believe he left Cuba as a child. Livan is the biggest-name Cuban with the Marlins and, in some ways, it might be his fault the Marlins are so gun-shy with Cubans. If Livan had been a little more mature, we might be seeing more Cuban players with Florida.

Well, I really hate to make it sound like I am chirping on the same topic, its just that I am actually a big marlins fan, back from 97. Even though Livan was immature, you also have to take into account, how passionate cubans were about the marlins back then, and there were less "new cubans" back in Miami back then that knew him from his days in Cuba. I just think that the Marlins are a good team and on the brink of the playoffs. If they can get a player that people can recognize back from Cuba and that would draw them to the stadium, I think that the Marlins would see a lot more people in that field. Incidentally, I think a good signing for them would be Contreras. I mean the guy was as big as you can get in Cuba, also, he comes for a cheap price, and you dont have to wait for him to get adjusted to life in the states. Besides, maybe the ambiance in Miami, can put his head back in the game. If he can get a decent season going (10-15 W, ERA less or in the low 4.00) I think he would get the city rocking. What do you all think of that idea?