Cuban infielder Luis Yander La O has defected from Cuba while traveling with the national team to North Carolina, Ben Badler of Baseball America reports. Kiley McDaniel of Fangraphs noted last night on Twitter that it seemed a move might be in the offing when La O did not appear at the park.
The 23-year-old had been said to be attempting a few months back, and now that seems to have finally taken place. La O (who is also sometimes given the surname “Camacho”) becomes the second player to defect on the national team’s swing through the states, joining Yadiel Hernandez. He intends to seek to achieve free agency and sign with a big league club, per Badler.
La O is exempt from international signing limitations, meaning he’ll be able to sign as any other free agent would once he achieves that status. He should draw a good bit of interest, as Badler rated him tenth among current Cuban players and says he’s nearly prepared for big league action. La O has played mostly at third and second, though he’s seen time at short as well. He’s a high-contact hitter from the right side, says Badler, though he lacks power and leaves some scouts wondering if he’ll hit enough in the majors.
I wonder how establishing residency works these days.. Before the thawing of U.S. and Cuba relations all a Cuban had to do was get to American soil and they could get asylum.. Now I do not know if that is still in affect.. I read the article linked in this column and it states “La O will have to establish residence in a foreign country and then apply to the commissioner’s office to make him a free agent, a process that will take several months before he will be allowed to sign.” But since he defected while in North Carolina and since they used the word defected wouldn’t he still be able to get political asylum here? By doing that he should be able to cut the time it takes to being declared a free agent by quite a bit.. I did a bit of internet mining and all I could find so far were older articles relating to players from the 90’s.. ” The exodus began in earnest in 1991, when René Arocha, a pitcher with the Cuban national team, walked off an airplane that made an emergency stop in Miami, and, in short order, stepped into a contract with the St. Louis Cardinals, for whom he pitched from 1993 through 1995.” Taken from http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/sports/cost.htm If somebody could clarify the new rules for me, I would appreciate it greatly..
Also, I am aware about how the players need to register with MLB by May to be available for signing but if I remember that only applies to players born after 1994 or 95.. So, La O being 23 should exclude him from that requirement.. But again I might be mistaking and I could probably use a lesson here..
Going from the stats that I could find about him he seems to be very similar to a young Martin Prado.. This is a player that I hope the Yankees go after hard.. “.327/.404/.401 with two home runs, 35 walks and 15 strikeouts in 340 plate appearances.” Very similar to Prado’s age 24 season.. Plus, he plays 3rd, 2nd and some SS..