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Cubs Sign Yasiel Balaguert And Carlos Martinez

By Mike Axisa | December 30, 2011 at 2:28pm CDT

The Cubs have signed Cuban prospects Yasiel Balaguert and Carlos Martinez, reports Baseball America's Ben Badler. Both players are represented by Jaime Torres.

Balaguert, 19 in January, is said to have "modest tools" and a "long, uppercut swing from the right side and an aggressive, pull-oriented approach that leaves him susceptible to secondary stuff." Although he's played center, it's likely that he'll be relegated to left field down the line. The Marlins had interest in signing him earlier this offseason.

Martinez, 20, is a right-handed pitcher who has worked mostly out of the bullpen according to Badler. He has a "fastball that parks in the low 90s" and an "average curveball but it often gets slurvy, while his changeup is also a work in progress with occasional fade."

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Chicago Cubs Transactions Carlos Martinez Yasiel Balaguer

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25 Comments

  1. grownice

    14 years ago

    So the cubs found the their replacement for Soriano in a few years , and they will replace him with … Soriano?

    Reply
    • jb226 2

      14 years ago

      If he turns out to be Soriano with, you know, a fifth the salary I think that would be quite effective. Somehow I am not expecting it.

      Reply
    • imachainsaw

      14 years ago

      soriano is an above average left fielder.

      Reply
      • dudemanbro

        14 years ago

        not sure if serious…

        Reply
        • imachainsaw

          14 years ago

          an .818 OPS in his tenure with the Cubs is way above average for left fielders.

          Reply
        • imachainsaw

          14 years ago

          his UZR is also way above average in LF, and he has a positive dWAR, so yeah I’m damn serious.

          Reply
  2. Matt Manzella

    14 years ago

    It’s no Yoenis, but it’s good that they’re signing international talent.

    Reply
    • Ferrariman

      14 years ago

      who needs Yoenis when you have Yasiel

      Reply
    • cubs27

      14 years ago

      Yasiel’s “scouting report” actually sounds like Yoenis with less speed

      Reply
  3. danistheguy

    14 years ago

    Theo strikes!

    Reply
    • popular_mechanics_for_pitchers

      14 years ago

      Out!

      Couldn’t resist

      Reply
  4. CandyMaldonadoLand

    14 years ago

    I’m naming my first child Yasiel Balaguert

    Reply
    • Lastings

      14 years ago

      Can you even pronounce that name correctly?

      Reply
  5. Cheeseballs

    14 years ago

    Our Carlos Martinez is better than your Carlos Martinez. Birds

    Reply
    • chaifetz10

      14 years ago

      The Cardinals Chris Carpenter is better than your Chris Carpenter, and their Carlos Martinez is better than yours too.  

      Reply
      • Cheeseballs

        14 years ago

        I was speaking for the birds, not against. But yes.

        Reply
  6. jb226 2

    14 years ago

    I’d like to see them go after a bigger fish since it seems like this will be the last offseason to be able to use their financial advantage internationally, but I guess something is better than nothing.

    Reply
  7. Roy-Z

    14 years ago

    Those scouting reports are…not that great?

    Reply
    • Rick Springer

      14 years ago

      I’d be more worried about these signings if they were all projected to beat dominating.

      Reply
  8. Guest 5431

    14 years ago

    They don’t sound overally impressive, but it’s good to see the Cubs going out and getting some young players… they must have seen something in them

    Reply
  9. Logjammer D"Baggagecling

    14 years ago

    Meaningless signings they will never make the ML level, The Cubs are in dyer need or a catcher a closer, and starting pitching. Yet they sign to players who are 19 and will take 5 yrs to develop by the time they are ready the Cubs will have traded them and they will become superstar players. Then again Hendry isn’t the GM anymore either.

    Reply
    • firealyellon

      14 years ago

      And you in dire need of spell-check…

      Reply
  10. stewie75

    14 years ago

    Just more lottery tickets, don’t get excited but lottery tickets nonetheless. now let’s focus on the real prize from cuba… just consider his salary what you’d have paid garza anyways.

    Reply
  11. Rick Springer

    14 years ago

    Hopefully the Cubs didn’t pay too much for these inspiring examples of major league ready talent.

    Reply

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