ESPN's Jerry Crasnick posted a must read feature on a pair of Cuban outfielders today, 26-year-old Yoenis Cespedes and 19-year-old Jorge Soler. You do not need Insider to view the article. Here's a roundup of the pertinent hot stove news…
- Cespedes is moving closer to establishing residency in the Dominican Republic, which will then allow him to apply for free agency through MLB. His agent, Adam Katz of the Wasserman Media Group, declined to pinpoint a timetable for when that might happen.
- "The buzz in baseball circles is that it will take north of $50 million to sign Cespedes," says Crasnick, who notes that estimates have climbed higher in recent weeks.
- A large number of teams have expressed interest in signing Cespedes, and Crasnick says about two-thirds of those teams project him to play center field. The rest expect him to shift to right.
- Some clubs have turned their attention to Soler as Cespedes' price climbs, but Pirates director of Latin American scouting Rene Gayo says Soler is "not in the same class."
- "[Cespedes is] more likely to hit 30 homers than hit .300 and probably compares best to somebody like Cameron Maybin, but with more power if less range and speed," said one executive. "He's stronger and more stocky and may end up on an outfield corner in a few years, but for now he can play center field … For a club like the Yankees or Boston who can afford those investments, he makes some sense.''
i kinda dont want him to get signed so that we can have a sequel to the highlight video
So he’s kinda, really nothing like Maybin?
He’s exactly like Maybin except for all of those ways that he’s different.
He’s sorta like Roy Halladay, except he doesn’t pitch…but with greater power
I don’t know about that. You may have to check your facts; Halladay did after all slug .149 last season.
he’s a very confused man’s cameron maybin
Haha
Haha
I think he matches up well with Maybin. He will probably be an All-Star in the next two years.
He’s an outfielder and he’s black. Does anything else really matter?
That’s what you get when you ask a Padres executive to evaluate talent.
is this guy ready to hit in the mlb right away or does he need AAA time?
what the hell kind of comparison is that
For a club like the Yankees or Boston who can afford those investments, he makes some sense. What is Crasnick an apologist for those two teams? I am quite certain the Phillies could afford Cespedes if they want him and so could the Blue Jays from what I hear. Also, if Angelos decided to open his check book, he could afford him too. The problem is the fanbase is in the crapper. I am unsure at this point as to what exactly is going to bring them back to the point when they are in the top 5 for attendance. As the team currently stands, this will not happen in 2012.
Those weren’t Casnick’s words, they were a quote from a source in the article.
“You do not need Insider” thank you
Cespedes report sounds like BJ Upton, with little more power and less defense. But completely unproven and could be a bust.
Is BJ Upton a bust? Its hard to figure out.
delmon young is a bust. upton is just a disappointment
Yeah. He hasn’t lived up to his potential, but he’s still an above average major league center fielder. I just didn’t know if you would put him in the bust category.
“delmon young is a bust. upton is just a disappointment”
Tuesday 2-fer and it ain’t even Tuesday.. Both are busts in my book, or at least Upton has been since ’07
B.J. Upton was a top 50 position player last year with 4.1 fWAR. Over the past 5 seasons, he is 33rd in fWAR with 20.1. That is better than Crawford, Jeter, Pence and Kemp, among many others. How exactly is this a bust? He will be 27 next year and is just now entering his prime. There is no way he is a bust or even a disappointment.
5 hrs in the postseason. Nuff said.
I’m not saying Upton’s a bust. But Cespedes can be BJ Uptonish player or just ends up AAAA player as Cuban league is not that trustworthy.
I know. That question came into my mind when i read your post.
I know. That question came into my mind when i read your post.
“Cespedes report sounds like BJ Upton, with little more power and less defense. But completely unproven and could be a bust.”
I simply cannot resist with my disdain for BJ Upton…
A bust as in BJ Upton?????
What I am trying to say, is that Cespedes’s ceiling could be another BJ Upton or he could just ends up being AAAA player.
The team signing Cepedes will think that they’re signing a 26 year old, but wouldn’t be surprised if he’s in his early thirties.
This.
$50Million is way out of line for a prospect. You’d have to have more than faith in your scouting opinion
How many people here want their respective teams to sign him more now after reading this? Just curious.
Ummmm… Mine.
Ummmm… Mine.
No not at all. His asking price is way out of line. I don’t get the apparent feeding frenzy. I think the agent is good at doing his job
I agree the price is out of line but mannn they sure are doing a good job of selling him lol
No not at all. His asking price is way out of line. I don’t get the apparent feeding frenzy. I think the agent is good at doing his job
At 50MM? Nah, someone else can sign him. But if comes down to the 30MM range, I’d like Cashman to be involved.
If a 106 mph fastball gets you 30M then Cespesdes’ bat must be the equivalent of a 150 MPH fastball. I heard a rumor that he used to strap Cuban children onto baseballs and send them across the gulf into Florida. And those were just bunts!
If a 106 mph fastball gets you 30M then Cespesdes’ bat must be the equivalent of a 150 MPH fastball. I heard a rumor that he used to strap Cuban children onto baseballs and send them across the gulf into Florida. And those were just bunts!
That was a horrible comparison and from watching the video (60 yards in 6.3 seconds), a horrible scouting report.
according to that flashy video i saw of him, his skillset includes: hitting BP homers, spitroasting pigs, box jumps, being buff.
He’s the kind of guy I would not want to share a gym with.
“being buff.”
Made me laugh.
Me too haha…
the more I read that comparison, the more I laugh
So the new CBA agreement doesnt have anything on the amount of money international free agents are allowed? But it limits the amount draftees can get…
It does limit what teams can spend internationally though, which will limit what these guys will be offered.
He’s coming over here either way though, whether it’s $50MM or just a high of $30MM.
It does limit what teams can spend internationally though, which will limit what these guys will be offered.
He’s coming over here either way though, whether it’s $50MM or just a high of $30MM.
“Although baseball’s new collective bargaining agreement restricts the
amount of money teams can spend on international signees, those rules
don’t apply to Cespedes. For the next two years, Cubans who are at least
23 years old and have three years of experience in a professional
league are exempt from any bonus limitations, with the rules subject to
negotiation and change after that.
Cespedes, 26, meets both requirements, so he’s free and clear to reach for the sky.”
From the article.
And Soler gets effed in the a.
You can only spend on average $3M on internationals. The Royals gave Noel Arguelles way, way more than that.
Damn you Bud Selig!
I dont understand why hes exempt…and like the Jonas said below Soler isnt…ughh these agreements! I think they should add more restrictions for international free agents like require them to play in the minors for half a year or something.
“Although baseball’s new collective bargaining agreement restricts the
amount of money teams can spend on international signees, those rules
don’t apply to Cespedes. For the next two years, Cubans who are at least
23 years old and have three years of experience in a professional
league are exempt from any bonus limitations, with the rules subject to
negotiation and change after that.
Cespedes, 26, meets both requirements, so he’s free and clear to reach for the sky.”
From the article.
It’s an old game: pretend you’re 26 when you’re 29. You’ll get three extra (profitable) years on your contract.
People do this at bars every weekend, playing a few years younger. Think a person won’t do it when it could mean an extra $20 million?
I’m not accusing–I’m just saying that if we’re looking at a 26-year-old prospect with that much ability, why haven’t we been talking about him for the last four years? Or even last year? Why is he suddenly worth multi-millions now when he wasn’t a year ago?
We don’t talk about AAA “prospects” at the age of 26 in these terms. We certainly don’t give them $40-50 million contracts.
A hitter at 26 is very likely to be the same hitter at 31. And if he’s never seen major league pitching, I pity the team that wastes $40-50 million to learn they have the most expensive platoon-player in baseball.
Just watch most of the video. I say he gets 80 million to come to Detroit, and play OF for the Tigers, RB for the Lions, and PG for the Pistons.