MONDAY: Despaigne’s showcase will now take place on September 23rd, Badler reports.
THURSDAY: Cuban right-hander Jorge Despaigne has been declared a free agent by Major League Baseball, reports Ben Badler of Baseball America. He is yet to be cleared by the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to sign, it appears.
Despaigne, 23, presents a plus fastball that can hit the mid-90s, says Badler, though he can struggle to spot it. As Badler recently explained, Despaigne is said to have difficulty repeating his mechanics. Lacking international exposure, Despaigne is a “relative unknown” with “a higher uncertainty level,” according to Badler.
Importantly, with just three seasons of play in the Cuban league Serie Nacional under his belt, Despaigne will be subject to international bonus limits. With many clubs having already allocated their international spending, he may present an opportunity for a team that has already decided to accept penalties or that has some available space.
Despaigne, residing in Haiti, will put on a showcase in the Dominican Republic on September 25. He will be joined there by countrymen Dian Toscano (a 25-year-old outfielder) and Javier Gonzalez (a 20-year-old righty).
cousin in san diego? I wonder if he’d be a target for the Angels.
Probably limited in choices since he isn’t a true free agent. Many teams won’t want to give up multiple years of bonuses for him, but someone like the Yankees might be able to snag him a bit cheaper this way.
I smell another project for Don Cooper in Chicago
Something screams buyer beware to me when most of the Cuban players coming out are waiting until they no longer count against the international spending limits, thus getting bigger pay days. The Royals got burned on their last Cuban pitcher who shortly after the contract was signed needed shoulder surgery.
He’d have had to play two more years in Cuba to be exempt under the current rules, so that would be a pretty long and potentially risky wait.
Completely agree with you, but that is kind of my point. Sign a pretty small deal now or play for another two years and potentially get a huge contract like all the other guys. its a risk, but if his advisers thought he was a rare talent they would say hold off for another two years.
That’s true but I’m sure their is a little “let me get of here now while I can” going on. The young man has more than a little pay day/big pay day question. If he messes up his elbow or shoulder over the next couple years and is throwing 86 mph, he doesn’t get to come here period. We think of things different when we are free to move around as we wish.
Go sign him Angels!!!! Our farm stinks and we have no pitching depth.
Fit for the halos.
Dodgers. Just so we can hear Vin say his name.
Are there any players left in Cuba? The country seems to be leaking baseball players …
Every small town in America has a guy who can throw mid 90s but can’t spot it. That’s why they are working at the hardware store…