24-year-old outfielder Yasmani Tomas has been cleared to sign by the United States Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), MLB.com’s Jesse Sanchez reports on Twitter. Tomas, who is aiming to be the latest high-dollar Cuban ballplayer, still requires a grant of free agency from MLB before he can agree to a contract.
Ranking Tomas seventh among prospective free agents, MLBTR’s Tim Dierkes wrote recently that the intriguing talent could draw wide and varied interest around the game. As Ben Badler of Baseball America explained in reporting his defection, Tomas projects as a power-hitting corner outfielder with below-average speed. Though he may not be quite ready to appear immediately in an MLB lineup, the consensus seems to be that he is at least very nearly big league-ready.
Ultimately, Tomas offers the promise of a unique combination of power and age for a market in which both are treasured commodities. Given his age and experience, Tomas will not be subject to international spending limits, meaning that he will be a true free agent when he receives his designation from the league.
Two of Tomas’s countrymen — Rusney Castillo and Jose Abreu — recently landed deals guaranteeing better than $10MM a year over seven and six years, respectively, though both players were considered slightly more polished while also being older. Earlier Cuban ballplayer signings included younger, high-upside outfielders like Yasiel Puig (seven years, $42MM) and Jorge Soler (nine years, $30MM).
Tomas, of course, is a different player, with an overall profile that shares some attributes with each of those rough comparables. If nothing else, though, the steady rise in spending on Cuban emigres — related, in some part, to the remarkable MLB success of the above-listed and other Cuban players — shows that clubs are not hesitating to plunk down big dollars for international talent.
I think he lands $90M, easily.
Come on Cubs, Tomas would look pretty awesome playing adjacent to Jorge Soler!
the absolute last thing we need right now is a big-money, long-term deal for a left fielder. left field is the most realistic place Kris Bryant winds up unless Addison Russell fails to live up to expectation. We sign Tomas and suddenly we HAVE to trade an infielder.
That’s the first and most logical response, not saying the Cubs do it but I think they should. Talent acquisition is the name of the game and power from the right side is at a premium. Both have been Theo and Jed’s main focus. It’s simply not possible to aquire young power for only cash in exchange. Adding talent in any form should be looked at. I will be ok if the Cubs biggest problem for the next half decade is “damn another uber prospect hmmm what should we do with this one?”
if i were the GM of the Cubs i’d definitely take a look and then see what the market for him is like. But given the money the other recent Cuban imports have been getting the price just doesn’t make sense. In addition to Bryant possibly playing the OF, there’s Schwarber, Almora and McKinney coming up in the next few years who might need that spot as well. Locking in a player like Tomas, who might not be better than any of them, for 10-12+ million a year for a 5 year commitment might not be the greatest use of money long term.
The Phillies need to sign Tomas. Overpay to get him. Give him 6-years $96M and hope for the best.
Rumor has it that this IS the Cuban player that the Phillies really want. I hope they get him this off-season. Then they can trade Dom Brown for a change of scenery player.
Edwin Jackson?
….Please take him
I don’t think Cuba has any interest.
Red Sox need a power hitting corner outfielder. Get this kid that way you don’t have to give up your top prospects instead just $$$$
Oh yea. The Red Sox really need to go get another outfielder.
Ya, they kinda do. They’re loaded with under-achievers.
The last thing the Sox need is another outfielder. They should be able to field a respectable outfield with the pieces they’ve got.
Two outfields, in fact! They could do shifts, like in hockey.
You are right that they can field a respectable outfield. But how many of them have PLUS power. Only Cespedes. Plus power is the only thing the Red Sox do not have in their farm system. And the only reason I posted this was because of the speculation of Stanton. You will have to pay him 200+ Million, and give up your top prospects.
Castillo could. Hopefully he does.
There’s no legitimate Stanton speculation. He’s not going anywhere.
He could have plus power. Where as Tomas actually does have it. And also unless Castillo hits opposite most of the time. He will be hitting the monster a lot from what I read after the Sox had signed him. I remember reading that he was a line drive hitter. So I see him having more doubles power than HR power. Thats all.
Yankees need to make a run at this guy. They need run producers for 2015.
Sounds like 2013 off-season or any other off-seasons. Fans whining for big spending after big spending.
Wonder what Despaigne is thinking?
Isn’t he playing at Japan?
He is indeed in Japan. .236/.300/.491 with 7 bombs in 120 plate appearances for the Chiba Lotte Marines.
Remember, these guys have differing wants/needs/family situations; it isn’t necessarily worth it to all of them to earn gobs of money here if it means they can’t really come and go from their home. And his earning capacity in Japan will presumably dwarf anything that most of his fellow countrymen can hope to make.
Love for the Mets to get him, as they need a corner OF. But, it’s the post-Madoff Mets who don’t like to spend anymore, so I’m sure they won’t be linked to him or even bother scouting him.
Is he LH or RH?
RH
This is all philly, I honestly don’t think philly will be outbid. With the cash flow coming in soon from the new tv deal, this is the right thing for them to do to have a piece for when they are re-built around 2017-2018:
What else do they have for 2017 and 2018? Honestly not familiar with that franchise other than they are currently stuck in the mud.
Yasmani, its your good pal. Whata say we go blasting some homeruns together out of U.S. Cellular. Our good pal Alexei is here. So is Dayan. We can be the Cuban mash brothers. Come on up. It’ll be a blast. Quite a few I’d say. Sincerely, Jose Abreu.