Cuban second baseman Jose Fernandez has defected, Jon Morosi of FOX Sports reports on Twitter. He will seek a big league contract, says Morosi, though of course he must first qualify for free agency. Ben Badler of Baseball America reported yesterday that Fernandez had not appeared with his club and was potentially attempting to leave Cuba.
Not to be confused with the young Marlins pitcher of the same name and Cuban heritage, the 26-year-old Fernandez is considered a legitimate big league prospect who could potentially be signed as an immediate everyday option. He will not be subject to international spending limits given his age and length of service in Cuba’s Serie Nacional.
As Badler wrote back in August, Fernandez is among the three best Cuban ballplayers who are currently unavailable to MLB teams. According to Badler, Fernandez is an on-base machine who hits from the left side with an advanced approach and contact skills. (Remarkably, he struck out only ten times in 314 trips to the plate last year.) You’ll want to read Badler’s full report, of course, for a detailed account. Though a highly developed player, Fernandez does come with some warts, including an unconventional swing, tendency to hit grounders, and below-average speed and power tools. And his defense is described as merely adequate.
In sum, it seems fair to say that Fernandez is less a flashy, toolsy prospect with a wide expected performance bracket than he is a reliable, high-floor target. By way of comparison, fellow recent defector Hector Olivera — also a second baseman — rated sixth on Badler’s list. Though he seems to offer more a somewhat more explosive offensive repertoire, he is also older and comes with an injury history.
As I explained recently with regard to Olivera, Fernandez will not be available to sign immediately. First, he will have to establish residency in another country, be cleared by the United States’ Office of Foreign Assets Control, and be declared a free agent by Major League Baseball. For countryman Yasmany Tomas, that process took approximately three and a half months.
Photo by Alyson Boyer Rode.
Come on AA!!
Makes too much sense
Have to imagine he’s going to expect something like the Rusney Castillo deal, which would put him beyond the Jays silly 5-year policy.
Is Jose Fernandez expected to be that highly sought? I haven’t heard much about him, although I didn’t think Castillo would get that much money either. I wish I could see the full Baseball America ranking of top Cuban players, but I’m not a member
A recent ranking had him ranked #3 in Cuba – although Castillo wasn’t on that list so it’s tough to compare.
I honestly think he COULD be highly sought because there aren’t that many good 2nd baseman available this year at all, whether it be via trade or FA. Think about it who is available in FA Bonifacio is the only decent guy available. And in trades it’s only Zobrist. So there is a shortage in the 2nd base market.
Daniel Murphy will be available this offseason through trade as well.
That’s another attractive one for us too to go with Reyes; a perfect plan C; because Olivera would be plan B !!! !!!
^This is true and is the epitome of being a Blue Jay fan. Woe is us.
My sentiments exactly.
We’re all hoping, he sounds like a perfect batter in the #2 hole to get on base for the two 35-40 HR threats in Bautista/Encarnacion.
Could do some good hit & run plays with Reyes considering his phenomenally low strikeout rate and high groundball rate. Groundballs carry extremely quick on the turf too.
Hope so to but count the Yankees and Dodgers to be all over him…
LA already got Puig; Arruebarruena and Guerrero…If Hanley leave they might move Guerrero to 3B and play an insane combination up the middle of Arruebarruena and Fernandez; The DP duo of My Team Cuba this pasted WBC !!!
Everyone is going to be interested, don’t get a lot of middle infielders putting up OBP of .400+ in the minors or really anywhere in baseball.
So Dee Gordon is a bench guy or trade bait? Sort of doubt it.
Wait… The name sounds familiar
Yup, this guy can pitch too. The 2B thing is just a disguise. He’s just trying to achieve a better contract
Alderson: “There’s this new potential option at 2B that just defec……..”
Wilpon: “Too expensive. Next.”
Better question – can he play SS or RF?
Wilpon: *lights another Cuban cigar with a $100 bill*
They already have Murphy and Herrera and Flores. If they’re going to spend a bunch of money on a Cuban defector, make it Tomas, who plays a position that they really need.
I would imagine the A’s and Jays are probably the biggest suitors for this guy. Won’t be spectacular, but will probably be good.
5yrs $25m-$30m
Probably what he’s worth, but the market bubble on Cubans might get him an extra $10 million.
So… Rusney Castillo received a 7 year $72.5M deal at 27 years old and Jose is more advanced…. and younger… and a lefty bat… and will receive less money?
I don’t know if he will warrant the money he will be paid, but if he doesn’t match Rusney, he may get more…
More advanced but a much lower ceiling.
I would expect somewhere between Alex Guerrero’s 4/28 and Castillo’s deal. His scouting report doesn’t have the same hype.
If i remember correctly Castillo was seen as somewhat of a power threat. The article here says Fernandez is decidedly not, as well as a sub-par runner and ‘adequate’ defender. Not sure the market for ‘OBP’ is all that high right now.
The Marlins also need a 2B but I doubt wego after this guy since we already have a Jose Fernadez.
the fernandii
the Joses Fernandii*
Yankees also need 2B help. They can move Prado to 3B.
The Yankees have a 2B named Refsnyder. His MLB career would likely be on par with Fernandez at much less the cost.
I would love to see the Yankees give Refsnyder at 2B but this guy seems like a more accomplished infielder. Even though the scouting report did not mention his fielding ability. I believe Refsnyder is just learning 2B. If they signed Fernandez, Jose Pirela and Refsnyder could compete for a bench position.
Minor league numbers don’t always translate directly to the Majors (Jurickson Profar and Oscar Taveras come to mind right away) so don’t overate Refsnyder too much now (watch he is the second coming of Cano). And it really couldn’t hurt for the Yanks to have a good option at 2B next year if they don’t think Refsynder is ready yet.
Refsnyder can also play Right Field.
There’s room for Fernandez.
Oh very true. Just uncertain if they are going to spend money on Fernandez to play the infield, or if they are going to try and go after some starting pitching (which they need).
Will love to see my Jays sign him !!!!
Then you”l see; every body under estimate Abreu and Guess what !!! Mega Rockie of the Year Campaign !!!
I thought he was on the Cubs?
I know he’s way out of our price range, but he would be a match made in heaven for the Braves. A second basemen “on base machine.”
The Brvaes might already have that guy in La Stella, no need to spend 11M dollars when you might have the answer for 500K
La Stella is not the answer
La Stella is young enough with enough on-base skills to basically be a cost-controlled Fernandez.
Can he play third? :D
Apparently he does play 3B as well. His arm is fringy there, but his range and glove work nicely at 3B; he’s also a left handed hitter and a contact/OBP machine. Color me interested.
He’d probably play anywhere an MLB team asked him to. You’re talking about a guy defecting from Cuba after all.
Well it’s a question of ability, not willingness. I mean, I’d play anywhere an MLB team asked ME too as well, but I wouldn’t be good anywhere :P
Yanks need to get one of these two 2B; either Olivera or Fernandez.
Then where do you play Prado? (I’d love for him to be at SS. Not the best option, but we survived for 20 years with Jeter there)
Your new icon makes me sad a lot
Red Sox, Celtics, Pats, Bruins I take it for you lol
Well, very Red Sox, Celtics and Bruins when they’re in the playoffs mostly, and what’s football?
But I can’t abide by any New York teams because they connect to the Yankees in my mind :P
3rd.
(then where do you play ARod?)
You don’t, or you bench him, or you DH him. Gardner, Ellsbury, Beltran in the OF. And on days Beltran needs to DH, play ARod at 3rd and have Prado play the OF. Or the 4th OF.
That way, all we need is a SS.
Maybe they re-sign Headley and put him at 3rd, and as I mentioned Prado to SS, and hoepfully Ref or PIrela at 2B
“Fernandez is an on-base machine with an advanced approach and contact skills. (Remarkably, he struck out only ten times in 314 trips to the plate last year”
…..well then count the Brewers out.
At first I thought it was marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez defects to Cuba.
Olivera is an excellent 2B but Fernandez just kills it as we saw this pasted WBC…Now if the Jays would be able to sign Tomas and Fernandez with Melky not returning and just playing Bautista in RF and Pompey in CF….All I can say is; watch out !!!!
1.Reyes SS. S
2.Fernandez 2B. L
3.Bautista RF. R
4.Tomas LF. R
5.Lind DH. L
6.Edwin 1B. R
7.Navarro C. S
8.Lawrie 3B. R
9.Pompey CF. S
1.Dickey.
2.Buehrle.
3.Stroman.
4.Norris.
5.Hutchison.
Back End:
Graveman/or Delabar MR.
Loup SU.
McGowan SU.
Cecil SU.
Sanchez. (CL).
But I think Sanchez is going to be very good.. AKA should not be put in the bullpen and limited :(. Bullpens are for failed starters or 2 pitch guys. Sanchez could be better. I want to see if we have something truly special before we settle. And putting Sanchez in as a closer in my mind is definitely settling for less.
Agreed – even a mid-rotation guy is valuable than almost all relievers in the game.
Padres need to pick up this guy and they will have 3 recent Cubano defectors on their team.
Did anyone else notice this guy’s ridiculous K%? 3.2? That’s DiMaggio territory – and also suggests he’d do a much better job adjusting to Major League pitching than Tomás. Tomás went 3 for 18 with 7 Ks against American college pitchers. I’m just not sold.
Hope the Marlins sign him. Two Jose Fernandez’s on one squad. And then go sign both Chris Young’s this offseason.
They trade for Adam Jones and sign Pacman Jones as a pinch-runner.
And trade for Ryan Braun of the Brewers to play in the outfield along with Ryan Braun of the Angels organization for the bullpen.
A la the ’62 Mets with two Bob Millers.
Does anyone think Rizzo would be interested? If the Nationals don’t keep Cabrera, who probably wants to move somewhere to SS, they’ll have this decision assuming Zimmerman moves to 1B.
1. Sign Fernandez and keep Rendon at 3B (this also assumes Espinosa is not the answer at 2B), or
2. Move Rendon to 2B and sign a free agent 3B (Sandoval?).
Which option is more cost-effective for the Nats? Much, of course, depends on the demand (and cost) for Fernandez vs. a free agent 3B.
If the Bucs don’t re-sign Martin, Fernandez would be a good solution. Get him for 2b, move Walker to 1b, trade Pedro to an AL team for pitching, get a 2-3 WAR defense-oriented catcher. Might be even better than a wash, WAR wise.
Don’t know why everyone wants this guys, he isn’t even on the same level as Puig/Abreu/Cespedes/Castillo/Tomas. He projects as a decent avereage, low power, low speed, and questionable defensive player in major league baseball. Just because he’s Cuban doesn’t mean hes going to get Abreu/Castillo/Tomas money. He will get something similar to what Guerrero got.