Fleet-footed Cuban outfielder Dairon Blanco has been declared a free agent by Major League Baseball, reports Ben Badler of Baseball America (via Twitter). Badler reported back in May that Blanco had left his home country in search of a contract with a Major League club. Though he’s 23 years of age — the minimum to be exempt from international bonus pools — Blanco only has four years of pro experience in Cuba and is therefore still subject to those league-allotted pools.
Per Badler’s May writeup, Blanco has 80 speed on the 20-80 scale and has been clocked from home to first at under four seconds from the right-handed batter’s box. He’s a career .303/.369/.409 hitter in Cuba’s Serie Nacional, and he hit a career-high eight homers with a career-best 29 steals in a 2015-16 season that saw him post a .296/.352/.427 slash line. Blanco has punched out in just 12.9 percent of his professional plate appearances in Cuba and has walked at an 8.9 percent clip. Badler notes that he’s played both center and right field, writing that despite some occasional shaky defensive instincts in 2015-16 he did win a Gold Glove in 2014-15. His mechanics at the plate, however, could seemingly use some refinement.
Blanco actually participated in a showcase just yesterday, and MLB.com’s Jesse Sanchez was in attendance. Sanchez tweeted out several photos as well as video of Blanco taking batting practice, adding that the speedster notched a 6.25 in the 60-yard dash, which would indeed be considered an 80 by most scouts. Fangraphs’ Eric Longenhagen, too, tweeted some video of Blanco’s BP and agreed that he has 80 speed but placed a below-average 40 grade on his throwing arm, which would suggest that left field is his best placement on the diamond.
While Blanco appears to be an intriguing addition to the free-agent market, it’s also worth noting that he’ll probably require some degree of minor league work before jumping directly into the mix against MLB pitching. Still, with his age and pro experience, it’s not out of the question to think that he could be an option in the Majors at some point in 2017
Hey Mets, right handed outfielder you can send to triple-a right here… this would be nice…
Nope tebows blocking him then…
First to home in under 4 seconds? I’d say that’s more of a 120 on the 20-80 scale, Steve. Haha
Maybe home to first?
I can do that home to first under 4 seconds, I’d need to be driving and get a running start.
Oh man your comment made me laugh so much
If a team signs Blanco is he considered part of the 40 man roster right away? Or can a team sign him and consider him part of their minor league farm system? Does whatever they sign him to count against the MLB salary?
It depends on the contract they agree to.
OK thanks! So does that mean a team could quickly build up their “young” minor league farm system pretty quickly if they spent a bunch of money on international free agents one year and just signed them to minor league contracts?
Yes and no there is a limit to which they are taxed 50% and then aren’t able to resign international prospect for a two year span. So yes a team can go on a spending spree for one period and then can’t sign anyone over 300,000 for two periods.
Thank you!!
yw
He’s just a man looking for a job right now, so he can be signed to any contract he’s willing to accept. Given the level of experience, I’d expect him to sign to a minor league contract, but with a sizable signing bonus or something to that effect.
No it sounds like his international experience relegates him to a minor league contract.
If Billy Beane isn’t all over this like a rash I’m giving up on him.
Beane has nearly no control anymore- it’s David Forst,
Beane is a minority owner, so has little influence
Wrong, Beane is still running the team – with Forst. He has full veto power over Forst and can make his own deals.
The title of GM doesn’t mean what it used to.
Seems to me like a 4th OF, not gonna lie.. I just don’t know how much of that line is going to translate. I see a .250/.310/.350- possible source of speed off of the bench or bottom of the order bat.
Probably like 70% of Rajai Davis, IMO
This is just a quick observation based on checking out his numbers and profile-
Sounds like a RH Ben Revere, at best.
A RH Ben Revere who can’t hit for average.