Cuban 1B/OF prospect Juan Miranda signed: $2m/4 yrs

[Mattingly]

He's a Yankee, not a minor leaguer. He'll be on the 40-man roster. I was hoping he'd have been in the minor leagues first, just to insure he's used to American baseball.

Outfielder-first baseman signs with Yankees (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2693552)

SANTIAGO, Dominican Republic -- The New York Yankees signed Cuban prospect Juan Miranda to a four-year contract worth $2 million, the player told ESPNdeportes.com.

The deal, which includes a signing bonus of $500,000, is a major league contract and requires the Yankees to place the outfielder-first baseman on their 40-man roster.

The signing was confirmed by a Yankees official who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

"In Cuba I grew up dreaming of playing in the big leagues, but I never thought it would be possible, much less with the Yankees," the 23-year-old Miranda said.

The left-handed-hitting Miranda was on the Cuban national team from 2001 until defecting to the Dominican in early 2004 following two previous unsuccessful attempts to leave Cuba by raft. Miranda gained Dominican citizenship last year. He left behind his parents and three brothers in the Cuban province of Pinar del Rio.

Miranda worked out for several major league scouts in the Dominican Republic over the last two years, but it wasn't until last week, after passing a team physical, that he completed the deal with the Yankees.

[Mariano_Rivera]

Will he be starting? I coukld see a plattoon of him and either Phillips or Phelps

[DoubleX]

This doesn't necessarily mean that he can't go to the minors, right?

And is he really 23? If he played with the Cuban national team in 2001, it means he would have been 18 then. I have a feeling he's probably older.

[TonyStarks]

The Yanks just don't learn.

Andy Morales anyone? Adrian "El Duquecito" Hernandez?? I don't like these Cuban players...they hardly EVER pan out. (With Exception of the Hernandez Bros and Contreras).

I can't recall any other significant Cuban player to make it in MLB.

Although, I am a fan of Yulesky Guerriel (sp?) who played 2B for the Cubans during the WBC.

[Mariano_Rivera]

The Yanks just don't learn.

Andy Morales anyone? Adrian "El Duquecito" Hernandez?? I don't like these Cuban players...they hardly EVER pan out. (With Exception of the Hernandez Bros and Contreras).

I can't recall any other significant Cuban player to make it in MLB.

Although, I am a fan of Yulesky Guerriel (sp?) who played 2B for the Cubans during the WBC.

It is a small risk though. he's chjeap by MLB standards and could be useful

[Mattingly]

The Yanks just don't learn.

Andy Morales anyone? Adrian "El Duquecito" Hernandez?? I don't like these Cuban players...they hardly EVER pan out. (With Exception of the Hernandez Bros and Contreras).

I can't recall any other significant Cuban player to make it in MLB.

Although, I am a fan of Yulesky Guerriel (sp?) who played 2B for the Cubans during the WBC.
There's a thread in the International forum about Cuban defectors. You may try posting there. "Cubano100%" is very helpful over there. Hey, just check your attitude at the door before posting. :D

[DoubleX]

I can't recall any other significant Cuban player to make it in MLB.

Minnie Minoso
Tony Oliva
Luis Tiant
Zolio Versalle
Rafael Palmeiro
Jose Canseco
Mike Cuellar
Danyz Baez
Camilo Pascual
Bert Campaneris
Jose Cardenal
Rey Ordonez

Not a tremendous list, but there is some pretty good talent in there. Minoso should be a Hall of a Famer, IMO, Oliva would have been if not for injury, Tiant had a very nice carer, same with Campaneris, and then there's Palmeiro and Canseco....

[TonyStarks]

Minnie Minoso
Tony Oliva
Luis Tiant
Zolio Versalle
Rafael Palmeiro
Jose Canseco
Mike Cuellar
Danyz Baez
Camilo Pascual
Bert Campaneris
Jose Cardenal
Rey Ordonez

DX, those were not defectors who played Cuban ball..where they?
I think only Ordonez played Cuban ball.
Canseco and Raffy came to the US at a very young age.

Also, my apologies...I should have stated this..but when I was speaking of defectors I meant the recent crop. Guys who came over from the Cuban leagues to MLB during my life watching the Yanks...which equates to about the last 20 years.



There's a thread in the International forum about Cuban defectors. You may try posting there. "Cubano100%" is very helpful over there. Hey, just check your attitude at the door before posting. :D


Matty..there was no attitude in that post. I know Cubano is VERY touchy about these kinds of posts. LOL
I think I made a comment about Kendry Morales and he went ape shi!@. Haha

[Mike27]

Hmm. Good move but this might take away from Melky's playing time which I don't really like. Is he the defensive 1B answer the Yanks need? I thought they wanted a righty, so I'm kinda confused that this is a major league contract, not a minor league...

[DoubleX]

DX, those were not defectors who played Cuban ball..where they?
I think only Ordonez played Cuban ball.
Canseco and Raffy came to the US at a very young age.

I don't know about defectors, I was just talking about Cuban born players.

[Mattingly]

I don't know about defectors, I was just talking about Cuban born players.
To my knowledge, they have to defect from Cuba in order to play elsewhere, as did El Duque and Contreras. Send a PM to "Cubano100%" and ask him for the details. The Mod there, Jim, can also be asked, but Cubano was born there.

I'm just glad that the Yanks are getting more creative. Instead of some huge splash like paying for Richie Sexson, making him about the 12th $10m man on the team, we got someone who's very low in payroll. Give him a year in AAA and see how good his glove and bat are. Low risk, hopefully high rewards.

[TonyStarks]

I don't know about defectors, I was just talking about Cuban born players.

Right, I saw that.

But I was talking about Cubans who actually played in the Cuban leagues.

[TonyStarks]

I just read that Miranda hasn't played organized baseball in about 2+ years.

Now I'm even more worried that I was a few days ago.

Oh well...it's only $2M

[Raul_Avila_R]

I can think of several more Cuban defectors who have played in the Majors, Ariel Prieto, Rolando Arrojo (All Star in his rookie year). There are now some others playing in the Minors, among them Yunel Escobar who recently won the batting tittle in Arizona (.407) and is listed as 35 among the top 50 prospects.
And in the list of Cuban players that played before there is an important omission, Tany Pérez, elected to the All of Fame and a very important piece in the famous Red Machine.

[Cubano100%]

Speaking about me here. Excuse me folks for bringing these info here but there are some questions about the performance and quality of Cuban baseball and players. We have forgotten the WBC already.


For the amount of players that are able to defect, I do not think we have done that bad. Also consider that if a player has played 10-13 years in his home land, then waste 2-3 years in a third country waiting for his legal papers to come to the USA, there is no way this player can last long. Example: Rene Arocha, Osvaldo Fernandez, Ariel Prieto, etc.

As for Andy Morales and Adrian Hernandez, I like to ask:

How many 3B does the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Venezuela and Mexico have in the big leagues right now?

Can anyone expect the fifth or sixth best and and not so young Cuban 3B to reach the big leagues? Andy had no power in Cuba.

How many players do not make it to the big leagues from other countries and the USA?
Adrian Hernandez had good results in AAA. That was his level.

You guys can blame the Yankees for not making the homework. You guys can blame the Yankees scouts for not doing their jobs right. Those signing were questionable for those who truly follow Cuban baseball and hurt the next wave of Cuban defectors.

The age and stats of Cuban players are easily available to anyone with a computer, Internet connection and some free time.







Orlando "El Duke" Hernandez (Mr. October)

3 World Series rings The New York Yankees en 1998, 1999 and 2000
1999 ALCS MVP The New York Yankees
1 World series ring The Chicago White Sox 2005
Post Season 9-3 with 2.55 ERA
1999 17 wins
2005 became the only pitcher in the history of the playoffs not to allow a run score when entering the game with the bases loaded and no outs.

Livan Hernandez

1 World Series Ring with the Florida Marlins en 1997
1997 World Series and NLCS MVP
Post Season 6-2 with 3.99 ERA
2005 Washington Nationals All Star
2000 17 wins
2003 15 wins
2005 15 wins
2004 National League Silver Sluggers
Youngest pitcher to start a World Series game Marlins 1997
Innings pitched leader year after year

Jose Contreras

1 World Series Ring 2005
Won 17 consecutives games between 2005-2006 which is a record for the Chicago White Sox.
2006 All Star
Post Season 3-3 with 3.77 ERA


Rolando Arrojo

1997 Arizona Fall League MVP
1998 Tampa Bay Devil Rays All Star
1998 Won 14 games and threw more than 200 innings with 3.56 ERA. Finished second in the Rookie of the Year selection.


Danys Baez

2005 Tampa Bay Devil Rays All Star
2003 saved 25 juegos
2004 saved 30 juegos
2005 saved 41


Rey Ordonez

3 Gold Gloves. 1997, 1998 and 1999
Between 1999 y 2000, establish a record in MLB with 101 consecutive games without commiting an error.

Michael Tejera

1 Anillo de Serie Mundial con los Florida Marlins 2003

Kendry Morales

Awarded the Fred Haney Award by the Angels in 2005
2005 XM SATELLITE RADIO ALL-STAR FUTURES GAME ROSTERS
In 2005, batted 380 in AFL.



Yuniesky Betancourt

2005 XM SATELLITE RADIO ALL-STAR FUTURES GAME
Made to the ML in 3 months and has been compared to Omar Vizquel.


Brayan Pena

2005 TRIPLE-A ALL-STAR TEAM

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/events/allstargames.jsp?mc=_triplea_05


Yunel Escobar

2006 XM SATELLITE RADIO ALL-STAR FUTURES GAME (despues de jugar la mitad de la temporada en su debut en el 2005)

2006 AFL batting Champ 407. Michel Abreu and Amaury Casanas also played well in AFL.
http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=l_bat&lid=119&sid=l119


Michel Abreu

2006 EASTERN LEAGUE ALL-STAR TEAM
http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/events/allstargames.jsp?mc=_eas_06



Barbaro Canizares

2006 Southern League All-Star Game







These players are either in the 40 man roster or will be invited to Spring Training:

10

Livan Hernandez Arizona
El Duque Mets
Danys Baez Orioles
Jose Contreras Chicago
Yuniesky Betancourt Mariners
Kendry Morales Angels He is on pace to brake the Dominican Republic winter league home run record. He has 11 and record is 14. Cibao Giants.
Yoslan Herrera Pirates
Juan Miguel Miranda Yankees
Alain Soler Mets Has a 1 ERA fro Ponce Lions in Puerto Rican Winter league
Brayan Pena Braves


Signed to a Minor League contract:


9

Michel Abreu Mets trade him please.
Amaury Casanas Cardinals
Barbaro Canizares Braves
Yunel Escobar Braves
Osbeck Castillo Arizona
Rey Ordonez Mariners
Francisley Bueno Braves He has been dominating for the Cibao Giants in the Dominican Republic. .81 ERA
Alex Sanchez Marlins
Yohannis Perez Brewers



Yamel Guevara is a free agent in Nicaragua. Need some more pitching? The Mariners sent their scouts to Nicaragua.




This was not a Sermon, just a few thoughts.

[Cubano100%]

As for your new boy Miranda, he has not played for 3 years and does mnot have family in the USA. Hopefully, the Yankees fans understand this. If you get tired of him, just trade him like Jose Contreras.

[TonyStarks]

Cubano,

As always, I have to applaud your patriotism!

[slugger33]

This is a good signing and I hope he is a starter.

[Mariano_Rivera]

Cubano, you are the Bill Burgess of Cuban baseball. Worst case scenario we trade him away. Siomeone will be thinking along the lines of that Contreras succeeded outside of NY so maybe he will.