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Second Baseman Jose Miguel Fernandez Leaves Cuba, Seeks MLB Deal

By Steve Adams | December 2, 2015 at 8:51pm CDT

One of the top players in Cuba, second baseman Jose Miguel Fernandez, has left the island and will seek a Major League contract, reports Ben Badler of Baseball America. Badler ranked Fernandez, 27, as the No. 3 player in Cuba back in April.

Jose Miguel Fernandez

Because of his age and professional experience in Cuba’s Serie Nacional, Fernandez will be exempt from international bonus pools and free to sign a Major League contract for any amount of years and dollars. An exact timeframe is impossible to peg, as other Cuban free agents have demonstrated in the past. Fernandez first needs to establish residency in a different country and then be cleared by Major League Baseball before he’s eligible to sign. Badler expresses doubt that all of those steps will happen before Opening Day 2016.

Badler calls the 5’10”, 185-pound Fernandez MLB-ready, praising his short, quick left-handed stroke and excellent plate discipline. However, it’s been roughly a year since Fernandez saw in-game action, as he was suspended by the league for previously trying and (clearly) failing to defect early in the 2014-15 campaign. Last winter, Kiley McDaniel said on a Fangraphs podcast that Fernandez was being heavily guarded by police in Cuba after his failed attempt to defect.

Fernandez’s contact skills and keen eye are his best tools, as Badler notes that he has below-average power, isn’t particularly fleet of foot and is adequate, but not exceptional at second base from a defensive standpoint. He’s played third base in the past but doesn’t quite have the arm strength to profile at that position, Badler adds. On the flip side, Fernandez’s knack for making contact is astounding; he’s struck out just 113 times in 2,580 career plate appearances in Serie Nacional — a rate of just 4.3 percent. That number is even more impressive when juxtaposed with his 10.1 percent walk rate (263 walks in those 2,580 PAs). All told, Fernandez is a .319/.403/.423 hitter in his Cuban career, not including international tournaments like the 2013 World Baseball Classic, where he batted .524/.545/.667 in 21 at-bat without striking out, per Badler.

While Fernandez may not have the power or speed required to give him superstar upside, he’s a prime-aged, Major League ready second base option that seems capable of posting a strong OBP and hitting for a solid average in the Majors. That’s an appealing player even if he’s not an All-Star in the making, and clubs with deficiencies at second base — or, perhaps, teams that lose a second baseman to injury in Spring Training — figure to show interest in Fernandez if and when he is declared a free agent by the league.

Photo courtesy of Alyson Boyer Rode.

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29 Comments

  1. soxhatz

    10 years ago

    White Sox could use him.

    Reply
    • Arthur

      10 years ago

      YES. This is exactly the option the sox could use. Could be similar to the Alexei Deal before 2008. Less defense but the contact is a big factor. Jose Abreu could give him a call and talk to him about coming here. Lots of Cuban history in Chicago.

      Reply
  2. jljr222

    10 years ago

    Even with their internal solutions at 2B, I wonder if the Yankees would have interest.

    Reply
    • hooligan

      10 years ago

      I doubt it, with his defensive downside, he’s too similar to Refsnyder to be worth the investment.

      Reply
    • jacobywankenobi 2

      10 years ago

      If only the yankees didn’t avoid Cuban players like the plague #narratives

      Reply
    • rocky7

      10 years ago

      Doubt it John…he’ll sign for every penny he can get.
      Given that your paying for a skill set is based on a keen eye that lend to not striking out ,putting the ball in play, not particularly fast, no significant power, and average at best defensive skills, the internal options the Yanks have grade out as much better options don’t you think?

      Reply
  3. charles stevens

    10 years ago

    I wonder if this news could change the Zobrist market.

    Reply
    • TheMichigan

      10 years ago

      I doubt it since he won’t be ready before opening day

      Reply
    • brettfletchall02

      10 years ago

      The Royals need a 2nd basemen there probably gonna give up zobrist if they can get this kid which i would want this kid more than zobrist

      Reply
    • JPZ7

      10 years ago

      Its the Nationals or Royals after this guy. Nats don’t trust Espinosa as much and want a 2B. Perfect for DC

      Reply
  4. Matt Galvin

    10 years ago

    Marlins?

    Reply
    • hooligan

      10 years ago

      Not with Dee Gordon already in the fold.

      Reply
  5. jbravo17

    10 years ago

    So, basically he plays for the Dodgers.

    Reply
    • jonathanh1020

      10 years ago

      Braves will trade for him soon

      Reply
      • moe 3

        10 years ago

        Yes but the Dodgers will still pay him

        Reply
        • tim815

          10 years ago

          But the Marlins will throw in a Competitive Balance Pick for the sport of it.

          Reply
          • WisBrave 2

            10 years ago

            Well there goes Albies then, it’s not like Braves need young position players anyways.

            Reply
          • formerlyz

            10 years ago

            They’ll probably be dumping some salary as well…

            Reply
  6. MikeTroutForMayor

    10 years ago

    Lets go Eppler

    Reply
  7. TJECK109

    10 years ago

    Everyone is missing the obvious…. Dodgers. They are the Ellis island of MLB

    Reply
  8. archhalo44

    10 years ago

    Angels need a 2B

    Reply
  9. jabmets

    10 years ago

    Mets

    Reply
    • rocky7

      10 years ago

      They’re not that stupid. This is the kind of guy the Dodgers live for. They can just pile his salary on top of the 50 Million they’re paying players not to play for the Dodgers.

      Reply
  10. hooligan

    10 years ago

    I see White Sox, Diamondbacks, Angels, Brewers, Pirates, Tigers, Royals, Padres, and Phillies as the players for him.

    Reply
    • batman

      10 years ago

      Definitely not the Pirates unfortunately

      Reply
    • brettfletchall02

      10 years ago

      i see

      white sox
      Angels
      brewers
      padres
      Royals

      definitely the Royals because the Royals are a contact team that puts the ball in play so he fits the Royals play style .

      Reply
  11. J32

    10 years ago

    Sounds like he could have Jason Kipnis like production with far less K’s. Kipnis this year had about below average to average speed/power with solid average/OBP. Left handed bat as well.

    Reply
  12. forum199

    10 years ago

    I would love for the Angels to take a flier on him but given his delayed arrival, he’ll more likely draw interest from a team not in immediate need of an upgrade or on a longer timetable to contention.

    Reply
  13. brettfletchall02

    10 years ago

    Sounds like a Royals fit player, good contact very few strikeouts seems like a very good player, definitely fits the Royals Play style.

    Reply

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