The Red Sox are nearing a minor league deal with Cuban second baseman Yoilan Cerse, reports MLB.com’s Jesse Sanchez (via Twitter). Sanchez reported back in February that the former Cuban All-Star was seeking a deal with a big league club.
The 28-year-old Cerse has nine years of professional experience playing in Cuba, so given his age and experience, he’s exempt from international signing pools. It’s unclear at this time what type of signing bonus the Red Sox and Cerse are discussing. While the lack of media attention he’s received thus far would, at first glance, appear to indicate that he’s in line for a minimal bonus, that may not be the case. The Dodgers signed right-hander Pablo Fernandez to a minor league deal in March, and, despite having received little fanfare in the U.S. media, Fernandez landed a hefty $8MM bonus.
Cerse, a 5’9″, 172-pound right-handed hitter is a career .325/.395/.468 hitter in Cuba’s Serie Nacional. He never posted particularly gaudy home run or stolen base totals in his Cuban career, topping out at 14 and 10, respectively. However, he showed an excellent knack for making contact, as evidenced by the fact that he walked exactly as many times as he struck out (242) over the life of 3187 plate appearances with los Indios de Guantanamo.
Middle infield depth isn’t exactly an area of need for the Red Sox, as they have Dustin Pedroia locked up long-term and Xander Bogaerts penciled in as the shortstop of the future. The presence of that duo, as well as third baseman Pablo Sandoval (five years, $95MM) did not deter the club from giving Cuban infield phenom Yoan Moncada a record-setting $31.5MM signing bonus, however. Boston appears intent on stockpiling talent throughout the organization — even in areas that aren’t an obvious need — which could benefit them down the line in future trade scenarios.
Clearly the latest piece of Cherington’s diabolical plan to play a second baseman at every position has fallen into place.
Dustin Pedroia, Mookie Betts, Sean Coyle, Carlos Asuaje, Wendell Rios, Yoan Moncada, Yoilan Cerse and Bugs Bunny.
I guess he’ll still have to acquire two more. Although Bugs Bunny can play more than one position simultaneously so there is that.
Cue the “Yoilan Cerse is an All-Star” chatter from the sports media.
Cue the “Red Sox fans think he’s a Future Hall of Famer” . Or “Red Sox fans won’t trade him straight up for Hamels” comments.
cue the ” some fans of other teams are always jealous” from a handful of posters here on a constant basis here which follows most every move they make, even insignificant ones like this.
Cue the . . . Wait what?
They would trade him if Philly ate a large chunk of Hamels’ contract. This guy must be great if the Red Sox signed him, right?
So only Red Sox fans overvalue their prospects? There are fans of every team that do this. Rationale fans see this for what it is…a depth move. Get over it.
No, people just THINK every Red Sox fan overvalues Sox prospects.
Your argument is that the sports media overvalues Red Sox prospects? Pray tell, what would be their motivation for that? If it’s that Boston is a big market then they must do the same with NY and LA prospects, right?
Yep. Where do you want your Kewpie doll sent?
Can he pitch?
Maybe he can play quarterback.
Looks like he could be a solid utility player, or maybe a bit better than that.
Utility/Clubhouse translator?
Not sure what the point of signing a 28-yo 2B is…
who hasn’t played since 2012?
Dodgers did the same thing with Olivera and paid many multiples of dollars more than the Sox did; D-backs paid much more for Tomas who is older and hasn’t played much in the last three years also.
Excellent knack for making contact?
242/3187 = 7.59%.(BB/PA)
The AL thus far in 2015: 1575/19577 = 8.05% He’s not even AL average at walking.It would be nice if the club spend some of the fans’ money on players who would help the Red Sox, say Andrew Miller, who has a 3.63 SO/BB ratio as a pitcher.
You may want to thik about SSS and translations. And drawing walks isn’t about making contact.
Kinda makes you wonder with all their second basemen. With Ortiz getting older and likely on his way out in a year or two. Do they ship out Pedroia and get new club house leaders? Don’t get me wrong i love the guy but in a few years his value will start dropping. He’s logged some hard innings, even more so do to his aggressive style of play. Might be in Boston’s best interest to get a good return in pitching prospects for him. Yet on the other side of the coin you couldn’t ask for a better redsox for life player?