Marti, Gomez Open To All Teams

Where is the video link?

It's on the right-hand side of the article... I just figured out how to get the link to it, sorry Tigers/Reds.

I'll add it to the article right now.

I would like to see the Yanks take a stab at both, especially Gomez since we need as many OF options as possible.

Here's a question. Using AA, AAA and MLB as baromters where would you guys say the Cuban and Japanaeese leagues compare to?

YanksFansince78

Alot of people compare Cuba to AA but I think Cuba is making it known they are closer to AAA than AA.

Japan I have no idea, a lot of Japanese Veterens come out rather than the young player you see defecting from Cuba.

Marti would be an interesting option for the Cards, who still desperately need a pitcher. I don't really know how to compare Cuba to the majors (AA, AAA, AAAA?), but intriguing nonetheless.

i would not mind the Yankees taking a look at either one. The numbers shown in the article look promising espically if Gomez can hit .397 over a 66 game span.If they are not major league ready, then im sure a little while in AAA would get them to the big stage sooner then later.

marti's fastball is the 87-90 range. chances are this guy is 35 not 30 considering he is from cuba and no one has a legit birth certificate

I hope Epstien goes after Marti. It would be better for the Red Sox to be players in the Cuban market sooner rather than later.

We all know they are both going to the White Sox.

"We all know they are both going to the White Sox."

Posted by: ChiSoxKilla23 | January 11, 2009 at 05:51 PM

Well, we don't know that for sure, but it would be great!

Since these two are childhood friends and both played on the same team in Cuba do you guys think they will come as a package deal or are they willing to go to different teams?

I wonder, which skill transfers over better from Cuban players to MLB. Pitching or hitting? A 90 mph fastball isn't that impressive to me.

I don't know if the Yankees can sing these guys too. With their recent signings of the pope and VP Cheney, isn't their 40 man roster up to about 70?

i wouldnt mind the braves getting in on this just to add depth to their rotation. mqybe not the OF'er but the pitcher would fi great

An outfielder and a pitcher? Sounds like it could be a good fit in Atlanta. Plus they seem to be former teammates of one Yunel Escobar...

Hey Tough........ Just so they don;t come to Chicago this week! After 14 inches of snow and temperatures ready to plunge to below zero this week, Cubans would not look too favorably to living in Chicago! I figure they would likely live in Florida in the off season anyway, but they better not visit right now!

Japan is normally considered quad A, between AAA and MLB.

And that makes since giving the high numbers of Japanese players coming over and having MLB success (Matsui, Matsuzaka, Okajima, Saito, Dodgers SP whose name i forgot.

The reason why its veterans coming over is Japan has a professional league to earn money, drafting etc. Cuba isn't that professional.

I think all things equal these two may want to sign to the same team, in which case the White Sox make a lot of sense.

more documentation in Japan to back it up?! Well it has to do with the vastly different levels of modernization and industrialization between Cuba vs. Japan. Biiig difference. If you actually compare of those two countries in terms of this, it reinforces the ignorant American stereotype. You know there's a major difference as soon as you step off the airplane in the respective countries.

YFS78

Them looking out for their family doesn't necessarily mean them going where the most money is. They will want their family to be able to live in the U.S. and have an easy time adapting. What is better than Chicago where it would be easier for them to adapt. Also, I think Ozzie Guillen makes the transition easier. He speaks their language so the interpreter problem is eliminated. White Sox could make this splash based on being able to help with their families transition to the United States
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Yeah Cuban ummigrants wouldn't fit in at all in the most culturaly diverse city in the world like New York. Last I hear, Cubans speak spanish and the NY has plently of spanish speaking players (Arod, Posada, Molina, Rivera, Cano, Cabrera, Veras, etc) and a large Latino media base. Wow....that's a silly point you're making.

I have a feeling these guys will have trouble getting signed. Who wants to give their first round draft pick to Cuba?

The reason why its veterans coming over is Japan has a professional league to earn money, drafting etc. Cuba isn't that professional.
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Actually that's not accurate. The reason why most Japaneese players come over are veterans is becaused their forced to play 8 seasons their before they can be posted. That's why there was such "drama" with Tazawa, because he was the 1sr Japaneese player to bypass playing for a Japaneese team and going straight to a US team. Prior to his signing there was a "gentlemens" agreement not to sign any Japaneese amateur players.

I would love for the Braves to take a look at both. We have a link with Yunel, we have some money to spend. I mean, this would be secondary to Lowe/Sheets, but it's worth a look.

That is the real age of those players, nowadays the Cuban government will release their age right away after their deffection, and the Cuban Baseball is closer to the ML than AAA, just look at Ramirez, el Duque, and Contreras, Arrojo, etc. how much time do they spent in the minors, the only reason Morales is been in AAA so long is because the Angels had options with him, but that is about to expire and the 1B is for him to lose.

Marti is not a hard thrower but he can pitch, just like el duque, and Gomez is a very fast outfielder that hit for high ave he is the 8th in batting tied with Zamora and Wilfredo Sanchez in the National Series, he made his debut as a teenager and play for 10 years, oh yes he is ready. I wish the Mets go after him and Marti.

in 02 contreras signed for 4yrs, 32 mil which set a record for a cuban player. i see marti signing for at least 6-8 mil per year which elimantes a lot of teams from the conversation.

As for the yankees, I thought juan miranda was mlb ready, when he was young he hit 303 in cuba, if gomez hit 400 at a young age in the same league i'd say he's more then ready for the bigs.

I have a feeling these guys will have trouble getting signed. Who wants to give their first round draft pick to Cuba?

Posted by: Torgen | January 11, 2009 at 07:05 PM

hahahaha

Well Miranda is a good looking young hitter with some good hands on the field.

YFS78

This is my last post directed towards you explaining the same thing - you obviously are just looking for an argument and seem to be a typical yankee fan, believing that Yankees are the best fit for everyone.

The point I am making is that it will be easier for the player to adjust in Chicago while PLAYING baseball.

A) The White Sox already employ 3 Cuban defectors on their major league roster. Contreas being the eldest and Viciedo being the most recent. Contreas, his family and Alexei Ramirez have already become part of a certain circle or group of individuals. It is much easier to grow accustom to a different place if you are able to integrate some of your own culture. By sigining with the White Sox, Marti and Gomez will be put in to a situation, based on the White Sox current roster, to sustain some of their culture while adopting some of the United States culture. Who do the Yankees have that can assist in this process? The city alone doesn't matter because whether you believe it or not Chicago is a pretty cultured place itself.

B) American baseball and Cuban baseball are different games. Ozzie Guillen will need to teach and coach these individuals. It is much easier to teach and instruct one on one in a common language. I understand all teams have players that speak Spanish, but in this case, the case of teaching and learning, it will be easier for the coach to develop these players. All three yankee catchers speak Spanish but how does that help a CF? It doesn't.

C) The fact that the White Sox could use both makes them the most appealing. They NEED another starter and they NEED a speedy high average potential leadoff man. Jerry Owens may be fast but he won't hit for a high average. The pitchers that are looking to compete for the 4th and 5th starter job may not be major league ready. The Yankees already bought Sabathia and Burnett leaving their rotation in good shape with Joba and Wang trowing for them also. They have enough OF. Cabrera Matsui Swisher Nady Damon and Gardner are all GOOD outfielders. At most the Yankees need to lose an Outfielder. Matsui at DH and 4 OF sets them up to not want another OF.

Yankees will not sign either of these players. Chicago, if they pursue them, will be the front runners.

Gomez played CF in the 2000 Olympics and from what I understand he still plays there. He hits for average, but doesn't have much power.

Here is a short career summary I found for Gomez http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Yasser_Gomez

Dude...don't talk down to me. I, in know way, am trying to assert that NY in any way shape for form have ANY advantages over any city, CHicago in particular. But for you to say that Chicago has an obvious advantage based on the fact that their coach speaks spanish is silly. That's like saying Boston has an OBVIOUS advantage for every Japaneese ball player that becomes available. Sure Chicago has 2 Cuban ballplayers, but let's not act as if CUba is on the other side of the world or anything. Ozzie isn't going to "teach" them how to play. They are both experience and talented ball players in their own right. Are you saying that players can be coached if and only if their coaches speak the same language? If that's the case then what do you say about all of the various Dominican ballplayers that come here at age 18?

And by the way I'm sure Miami probably has more Cubans than NY and Chicago combined. According to your thinking then maybethe Marlins are a shoe in? And by the way the Nationals, Marlins, Mets and Blue Jays all have spanish speaking managers. By your logic the Marlins would be the best place for them right? Largest Cuban community and a spanish speaking Manager to, as you put it, teach them to play the American way? Moronic arguement to say the least.

hahaha...ok...

-"By sigining with the White Sox, Marti and Gomez will be put in to a situation, based on the White Sox current roster, to sustain some of their culture while adopting some of the United States culture".

-" It is much easier to teach and instruct one on one in a common language".

-"They will want their family to be able to live in the U.S. and have an easy time adapting. What is better than Chicago where it would be easier for them to adapt".

-"Also, I think Ozzie Guillen makes the transition easier. He speaks their language so the interpreter problem is eliminated. White Sox could make this splash based on being able to help with their families transition to the United States".

Baseball is all the same, specially USA and Cuban, both countries has been playing baseball about the same time, the first non american to play in the ML was Cuban, long before looking for talent in PR and DR, they got it from Cuba, actually the first black player in the Majors could had been Cuban is not for WWII, his name was Silvio Garcia, and Cuba brought the game to PR and DR, that is how those countries came to learn the game.

Those were your own words dude. The Yanks are NOY entitled to anything and I don't see us having an advantage over any other team but it was your arguement that because they have a spanish speaking manager and a culturaly diverse city that somehow gave them an advantage compared to either of the NY teams, either of the two LA teams, Miami, Phillie, etc. The fact that the Six have 3 Cuban ball players help but throw enough money around and tell me if that will be a "real" issue?

Dude...you're making it seem like these guys were found in some remote, South American country where elecricity is seldom found. Just about ever team has several spanish speaking players, coaches and managers. I'm not trying to be a jerk or anything, but Domininca ball players face the same issues and manage to assimilate quite well. I don't think that matters as muc as you do. And just for the sake of saying it, Chicago does't even had a large Cuban community.

FYI: Miami, NY, LA and Tampa have the largest Cuban-American/refugee population in the US.

Spanish is the 2nd most used language in the US and I'm sure that "barrier" can be overcome for ANY team that makes it a priority for them.

Seriously, according to your logis, Miami would be the best place for them to go, since they have the largest Cuban community "Little Havana" and a spanish speaking manager.

That being said, I think if the players see some sort of "iconic" reverence for Contreras or Ramrez then maybe that would be a strong selling point, but all else being equal I would say it's wide open for all teams.

I'm just saying......last I heard Domincans, Puerto Ricans, Cubans, Venezuelans and Mexicans all got along pretty well and spoke the same language. It's not like we're trying to mesh ballplayers from both sides of the Gaza strip here.

I think realistically, if the White Sox have interest, they have to be considered favourites to sign one of both players. They have the need for both, the have a favourable history with Cuban players dating back to Minnie Minoso, and they have a fantastic relationship with Torres (should he wind up representing them). It makes too much sense for both sides.

How is that according to my logic? My logic is based on the players that are on the White Sox. Forget about the friggen city they play in, if you haven't figured it out yet I DON'T THINK IT MATTERS. What matters is the situation that the players are coming in to. I don't care where you are from when you leave your homeland, no matter where you go and for what reason, anytime you can find something that closely resembles home those surroundings are much more appealing.THE WHITE SOX, not Chicago, has the surroundings - players - to make THE WHITE SOX, not Chicago appealing.

These players community is a ball field, hotel rooms, planes, a meeting rooms. The fellow members of their community is those individuals that play with them or work for the organization.

And stop referring to me as dude

"more documentation in Japan to back it up?! Well it has to do with the vastly different levels of modernization and industrialization between Cuba vs. Japan. Biiig difference. If you actually compare of those two countries in terms of this, it reinforces the ignorant American stereotype. You know there's a major difference as soon as you step off the airplane in the respective countries."

It has been several decades since visiting a few different Asian and latin American countries while in the service, but am well aware of the differences culturally, documentation and several other ways wise basemoneky, thank you very much for you pearls of no so much wisdom...

Was trying to think of the last IFA that Boston had signed and according to soxprospectus, going back to 1982 they have only signed *2* RHP Gary Galvez in 2003 to a 500K bonus and 1B Juan Diaz in 2002 to a 400K bonus and he is no longer with them. They do not have a long history of giving out heavy bonuses in that country and maybe they should, maybe they should not start, though past history is not on their side.

So just for the sake of f*cking with you, wouldn't Miami be a better place for them to play?.....

"Been to both, doesn't even compare."

It's not an opinion. It's a statistical fact.

Does Dusty now how to make a Cuban pressed ham sandwhich? I bet you Ozzie does.. :)

Intended to post last Cuban IFA in the post I wrote above. Sox have many IFA's signed of course and dozens each year from Latin America, just no Cubans.

I would think Chicago, they seem to sign a lot. Is there some place that shows the amount of Cubans whom defect and who signs them by chance?

I meant the most culturaly diverse cities in the US.

YFS78

Read the post on Cubs signing the Japanese pitcher because they are looking for "emotional support for Fukudome" --- That is basically what I've been trying to get across to you all night. These 2 Cubans could use emotional support and the Sox have it in Jose and Alexei.

TOUGH: I dig your point but there's a greater distinction between a Japaneese ballplayer coming to a team where he's the only Japaneese speaking person as opposed to a Cuban coming to a team because, while he may be the only Cuban nationality, he certainly won't be the only spanish speaking person. If the Sox offered them 3/12 and the Braves offered 4/20 would that make a difference? Probably.

Yankeefan, the Dominicans and Venezuelan, can comeback home to their families once the season is over, or bring them to the states to be with them, Cubans defectors can't do that, so they need more support than others, the cultural shock is immense for Cubans, specially when they don't have any family, beside most of the time the thing that they one is freedom, once they obtain that, other things are not a priority, they can live from almost nothing, because is nothing to live for in Cuba.

Wow. If I were from any area in "Latin America" I'd be freakin pissed. Cuba is not just another country in Latin America. There are huge differences in culture, way of life, and even language dialect within the region. Many of the cultures within the region are proud and rich, and they are distinctive to their areas, so to suggest that one "latin player" is the same as another from a different country is like saying that those cultural differences don't exist. It would be like saying German culture is the same as French culture because they are both in Western Europe.

Cuba sticks out itself as a result of the enormous restrictions on rights for their citizens. As Garfios mentioned, Cubans can't come home to their families in the offseason. That's why they're called defectors. Once you leave, you are no longer welcome in Cuba. It doesn't matter how many "latin players" a team has, if they haven't gone through that, they will be of little help in coping with the situation. These two ball players will not see their families again for several years, not to mention the struggles they will have getting money to them in Cuba (another thing other "latin players" will not be able to understand).

Now, if I'm one of these players, and I'm free for the first time in my life, missing my family, now knowing what may happen to them as a result of my defection, not knowing when I'm going to see them again, then the first thing that is going to stick out to me when looking for a place to work, are people who will understand what I'm going through. I know that for the entire summer, I will be on a plane, in hotels, at training, and playing games with my team every day. If I can sign somewhere where at least one (Ramirez) maybe even three (Contreras and Viciedo) other players have gone through what I'm going through, that's a major selling point to me.

Now, that being said, it is possible that another team could outbid the Sox despite this advantage. However, neither of them fit exact needs that the Yankees or Red Sox have, while they both fit the White Sox needs. Who do you think is really going to be willing to put up the cash to sign them.

Later,
Aaron

And I want to insist, that in no way, shape or form, was I arguing that the Yanks a) were interested of b) held any advantage over any other team. Simply that while some of TOUGHS issues were valid, some weren't at all, IMO.

1) It looks as though they'll be represented by Torres, who deals very well with the White Sox

2) The Aformentioned 3 Cubans already on the Sox roster

3)..and most important: The Sox have a Hole in CF/lead off spot AND in the rotation.

The Sox seem to be the perfect fit for opportunity and integration for both players. The only question is whether they will pony the $$ to sign one or both.