Cuban infielder/outfielder Randy Arozarena has been declared a free agent, Ben Badler of Baseball America reports. The 20-year-old joins fellow standout Lazaro Armenteros as intriguing prospects who are now free to join an MLB organization.
According to Badler, Arozarena will hold a showcase in Mexico on January 22. Expectations appear to be that he’ll sign in relatively short order after that occurs. Notably, Arozarena will be subject to international bonus limitations.
In its last ranking of young Cuban talent, BA listed Arozarena as the ninth-best prospect who was (then) still on the island. Calling him a “quick-twitch athlete,” Badler praises Arozarena for his speed and says he could play up the middle and feature at the top of a big league lineup — if he reaches his potential.
While it doesn’t seem as if there’s a lot of power projection for the youngster, Badler does say he’s got enough pop to be a double-digit home run threat despite generally featuring a “line-drive approach.” And he’s said to have good contact skills, bat speed, plate discipline, and pitch recognition, making for an appealing overall package.
Defense remains something of a question, as Arozarena has moved around quite a bit in recent years. He has a history at shortstop and has featured there in showcases, but as Badler explains he has also been utilized quite a bit in the outfield in recent years. It’s not clear yet where Arozarena will end up, but it appears likely that he has a good shot at being able to handle a challenging defensive assignment in the long run, adding to his value.
Though he’s a fair bit older than Lazarito, Arozarena is still not a player who’ll be pursued for his immediate impact. Badler guesses that he’d be likely to open at the High-A level to start the 2016 campaign, suggesting it could be a few years until he factors at the major league level.
This is b.s. nonsense….These players missed the deadline, like several other players have that have been granted their release, and MLB is truly ONLY benefitting a handful of teams by doing this!!
By granting all of these players their early permission to sign, truly only the teams that have already passed their spending limits are the teams that are benefitting!!
Which the teams that have already passed their limits are generally high budget teams as well…These early grants are not and have not been good for baseball so far!!
While teams, that have not went over their budgets, that were planning ahead for the next signing period are now getting screwed over!! Alot of these guys they were pre-planning to make a run at next year, but now they cannot due to the earmy exemptions…
Yes, my Braves are greatly effected by this, and yes I’m pissed lol…Because these players will not be the last to also get their exemptions, and that will only take away more players from the pool for the next signing period….
Atleast Maitan will still be there for the 2016 period!! At this rate, several others will get exempted early and will be gone…
Okay, rant over and done!! lol
Yeet
I would agree with everything you said there, except I’m not a Braves fan. The way things have been shaking out, it would seem that MLB is VERY MUCH on board with the approach taken by a few of the teams lately, to spend now and pay later. They seem to have been doing quite a bit to accommodate the free spenders, and this is just another example. I can see why MLB would like that (because it drives up prices) but don’t quite understand why they would put the rule in place if they were going to do everything they could to help take the sting out of it later.
Yes a few teams are benefiting from the timing. But a lot has changed since the deadline. Being granted free agency is in the best interest of the player, which is what it should come down to.
Waiting a couple months is not a detriment to the player…But, truthfully, I do understand you point…
My main gripe is that rules were put in place, and now they are getting bent left and right, and for the most part they are getting bent to GREATLY benefit the teams that are already in the penalty…!
THEY NEED TO CHANGE THE RULE!!
1. I propose, if a player wants to get an exemption early, then that player cannot be signed by any team that has already exceeded its spending limit!
2. Exemptions cannot be allowed to any player who is under 20 years old.
If those two rules were put into place then I would be all for players getting early exemptions…Simply for the fact it would greatly limit the playing field, and it would keep teams just from being able to spend crazily past their budget, especially if it was possible someone they really liked may get an exemption later on …Instead, with the system now, teams only deterrent from buying up the Int’l market is paying an extra tax, and then the next year they get penalized!
That truly is not a deterrent whatsoever! Every other year, so far, large market teams have just freely spend over their budgets and then theh have just paid the extra fines…And walked away with seemingly half a brand new Single A roster..
It is a crime right now, what is being done to the teams operating on a lower budget! The powerhouses, and MLB are singlehandedly taking them out of the running for just about every single top Int’l prospect…
While I do agree somewhat, a lot of teams have handshake agreements with the prospects to wait until next signing period. There are a lot pre-eligibility, but it has also happened for prospects to wait until the next year because of pool limitations. So if your team really wants him, they can get a verbal agreement to wait until July 2nd to sign him.
Normally the handshake agreements take place because teams will pay more, and uncertainty of when the player will actually become available … The teams already over their allotment, are the ones that have shown the ability and desire to pay more; therefore, players really have no incentive to even wait…
Cubs fan. You’re spot on.
Was watching him on youtube, and he’s got some nice opposite field pop and can fly on the bases. Stay’s back well on off speed stuff loves to drive the ball up the middle. I would expect the bigger market clubs to bid on him as he can make an impact in less than 3 years.
he could have been great for the Royals at the top of the order after 2017 as they’ll need a 2b or OF at that point and The K is a line drive haven. Alas they busted their bonus pool nut back in July for the next 2 years..oh well
When can Norge or Vladimir Gutierrez sign
For the teams that are pasty wit limit and can only spend like 250K. Can’t they sign the player for like 150k. Then a month later give that player a multi million dollar extension????
I’m not 100% positive, but I don’t think that is legal…
It is a smart idea, but nontheless illegal…I believe…