Here’s the latest on a pair of highly-touted players who would be notable additions to the free agent market — if they become available:
- After playing in his team’s game on Friday, Cuban second baseman Jose Fernandez and his cousin, catcher Lazaro Herrera, were absent for unknown reasons, manager Victor Mesa told Cuban media outlet Giron (Spanish link). Baseball America’s Ben Badler hasn’t been able to confirm whether or not Fernandez and Herrera have defected, but he writes that were Fernandez to defect and be granted free agency, he’d immediately become one of the most sought after free agents on the market. Badler ranked Fernandez as the No. 3 player in Cuba back in late August. He praises Fernandez’s excellent bat control and plate discipline, noting that he also has occasional pop. Fernandez hit .326/.482/.456 in Serie Nacional’s 2013-14 season and was off to a .315/.415/.426 start in 65 PA this season.
- It is still an open question whether Japanese starter Kenta Maeda will be posted this year. Noting that posturing is an element in public discussions of whether Maeda will be made available, Ben Badler of Baseball America breaks down Maeda’s last start of the year. Per Badler, the righty — who relies on location given his good-but-not-great pure stuff — was crisp until his pitch count crept up. Clubs will get an interesting chance to see Maeda face big leaguers later this winter, as he is slated to throw for the Japanese club that will face a barnstorming roster put together by MLB.
The Marlins need to go after Fernandez just to confuse people.
Fernandez will be in a A’s uniform if he is a FA. They have a big need for a 2b and have the money to spend on him since they shed 1/3 of their payroll this off season.
Wouldn’t be so sure about that. The Beane model is about finding bargains. They got on Cespedes before the Cuban market started going crazy. You could be looking at $100MM contract depending on his age now.
Cespedes signed with the A’s to become a free agent sooner. Don’t be surprised he signs for a short term contract to make the big money later.
Why not get the guaranteed big money now? There is no guarantee that he is anything as good as the expectations. I have a hard time seeing him turn down a $100MM contract to get less than half that with the A’s.
I hope they have a decent time getting off the Island and over to the States eventually if that’s what is happening. Whether it’s a rubber raft or human traffickers (more likely) getting out of Cuba is sketchy. It always crosses my mind to think about that even if they have a big payday coming.
Would think the go traffickers. If he is that good he has money coming to him, and that is probably a safer bet.
Yeah, but a lot of the time they have to sign away a substantial portion of their potential earnings to these characters before they ever agree to take them. It’s a really sad situation.
Yeah, I’m sure that’s how it happened. WAY better odds than rowing a raft. Still I’m waiting for one of these to go wrong, be it a political intervention while leaving or a blood clot or some other health issue that dashes the hope for a payday. I wonder how the traffickers would deal with such an issue. Let’s face it, if you can play ball you get work visas others would not. It’s mostly the time between when they defect and establish Dominican residency that concerns me. Some day one of these will get botched.
I would think the Yanks would be interested in Fernandez if he has defected.
If the scouting report is correct, they should be in the front of the line to sign him.
Can they become free agents right away or do they have to wait for one of those IFA signing periods? If they have to wait for one of those periods, Yankees won’t be able to get him. Their is actually a salary cap for that now. Yankees went over the budget this past IFA and are limited to spending $300,000 on the next not 1, but 2 IFA
He has time to be a part of this years IFA class.
He is 26 and has multiple years of professional experience. Therefore, he would become a free agent not subject to international spending limits or the “quiet period.”
Generally speaking, from the time someone leaves the island until he establishes residency elsewhere and then gets cleared by the Feds to obtain a work visa, it has often taken about six months. Tomas defected early in June.
So it looks like he will be ready for Spring Training then.
“COULD be available at some point during spring training” is probably a more accurate way to say it.