Right-hander Hector Mendoza has been declared a free agent and can now sign with any club, reports Jorge Ebro of El Nuevo Herald. MLB.com’s Jesse Sanchez adds (via Twitter) that the 22-year-old Cuban hurler is expected to wait until his 23rd birthday (March 5) to sign, as he’ll be exempt from international bonus pools at that point. Per Ebro, Mendoza is being represented by Wasserman.
Mendoza was pitching for the Yomiuri Giants in Nippon Professional Baseball but left Japan last October in order to pursue Major League free agency. There’s been little word on him since that time, but given the fact that he’s been declared a free agent, it’s safe to assume he’s established residency in a new country in the four months since that report.
While Mendoza falls shy of the required five pro seasons in a foreign professional league to meet the standard requirement for bonus pool exemption, Baseball America’s Ben Badler writes that the Cuban baseball federation’s decision to loan Mendoza to the Yomiuri Giants for parts of two seasons constituted an additional season of professional work. Ebro also notes that Mendoza was on his Cuban roster but didn’t pitch in the 2015-16 season, which added to his case. (The recent collective bargaining agreement stipulated that players must be at least 25 years of age, but that rule will not come into effect until the 2017-18 signing period.)
As Badler points out, had Mendoza fallen under international bonus pools, he’d have been ineligible to sign with the Cubs, Dodgers, Yankees, Angels, Blue Jays, D-backs, Giants, Rays and Royals due to the fact that each substantially exceeded their allotment in one of the two previous signing periods. Those teams, now, will of course be eligible to sign him once March 5 arrives.
Badler lists Mendoza at 6’3″ and 195 pounds and notes that he’s worked as a closer during his career in Cuba but has a starter’s repertoire and could develop as such with a big league team. In 149 2/3 innings as a pro in Cuba and Japan, Mendoza has a 2.95 ERA with 6.6 K/9 against 5.3 BB/9. Badler has previously rated Mendoza as one of the 15 best prospects in Cuba (subscription required and strongly recommended), writing back in April 2015 that he has a 90-94 mph fastball and good in-zone command and strike-throwing ability. (Much of Mendoza’s struggles with his control came earlier in his career when he was a teenager.) He’s also displayed a solid-average curve and was working on a changeup as of that report from Badler.
Certainly, given the lengthy absence from a game setting (the 2014-15 season was his last full campaign), Mendoza will require some additional time in the minor leagues before he’s ready to help a Major League club. Exactly how much time will be dependent on whether the team that ultimately signs him views Mendoza as a starter or reliever, and the interest in him in those various roles figures to become clearer over the next five weeks as his 23rd birthday approaches.
“Go get him (insert team/gm here)!”
exactly
Paging the Dodgers
Dodgers should just buy cuba
Dodgers have gotten burnt on every Cuban player so far
Blue Jays please
It would be a Shapiro/ Atkins kind of move. Can spend money on youth but not the MLB roster to help win.
That’s funny. They spent money on players last year and they were winning last year. But I guess another ALCS appearance doesn’t count as winning
You’re absolutely right Osonus. That guy’s comment is stupid.
Agreed. Could try and sell him on the fact that they have two other Cubans who just signed and a chance to get to the MLB quickly in the pen and start in the future.
Yikes. Those peripherals will not translate well at the ML level. Granted he is young, but sounds very raw at this point.
Actually, that is in a hitter friendly league so he should transition over to the MLB decently enough.
Isn’t waiting till his 23rd redundant under the new CBA, wasn’t the age pushed to 25
Starting next signing period. Thanks for raising that question, though. Should’ve included in the post in the first place. I’ve added it now.
Oh, OK. Thanks
@cardinals pls
Twins all over this
Go sign him Cubs and Jedstein!!
Thanks for the template POTUS #21
There is the Cubs 5th starter
Seattle needs prospects, but so does every team so I doubt it happens. But if I was Jerry Dipoto I would sign this guy.
cubs, dodger, yankees, or red sox? every other team will not have a chance
Maybe if he were some big time player… He’s probably not as highly regarded as Lourdes, and he didn’t go to one of those teams.
I heard that was put in the new agreement. Those teams got to get first pick and if they didn’t want them then the rest of the team’s got to negotiate with them. It’s only fair because their fans think it is.
Sencond paragraph references Sanchez instead of Mendoza. Also, a few of those teams exceeded their allotment 2 yrs ago not last period. and there is 1 too many “be”s in the last sentence of the 4th paragraph.
Sounds like an exciting arm. Maybe the Halos will show interest, especially considering he won’t count against our newly full bonus pool.
I’m also a blue jays fan
Awesome!!!!!!!!
hope one of the 30 teams signs him.
This could be the first time I’ve seen “5.3 BB/9” and “good in-zone command and strike-throwing ability” used together.
I can only imagine..and I’m clutching here..that he has the ability to throw good strikes, rather than being good at throwing strikes.
I know, it’s a reach.
The references his control problems as a teenager so maybe he had tremendously high walk rates in his first couple of seasons. Most likely why he’s a reliever looking to transition to a SP. Remember deception is a part of pitching. But a big part of deception in most cases of Cuban pitchers is the abundance of different arm slots. So maybe he’s streamlined his mechanics as he’s gotten older. That’s really one of the only things I can think of. Beyond that his peripherals look average.
Please lord let the Brewers get this one
Cashman should be all over that.
I agree. He could be a nice addition for a starting job after being stretched out in the minors.
It’s crazy how when describing Mendoza’s pitching and skills it describes most average MLB pitching prospects ( whether drafted out of HS or college ). But somehow him being from Cuba makes him a better pitcher or prospect? I don’t get the reasoning
It’s simply because he does not require forfeiting a draft pick or player in trade to obtain. For a team like the Orioles it would be buying a better prospect to put in system. The question is how close he is.
How much money do you think a draft eligible pitching prospect like this would get paid if there weren’t restrictions in place to depress their earnings?
The reports I have read reminds me a lot of Daniel Cabrera, a live quality arm with lack of consistent control. He’s young enough to develop but needs a good organization when it comes to young pitchers. Anybody know what kind of contract his reps are trying to secure?
Watch Jerry D work! All Mariners!
Sounds like another Cuban player the Dodgers will throw bags of money and will never pan out.
I say let someone else take him. If he works out, good for them. Wouldn’t be too terribly upset to see him signed either I guess. Meh, it’s good either way.
Any ball players left on the island? Players used to lie about their age to get signed for more $$$$. Now they’re lie and say they’re Cuban which seems all it takes to drive their value up.
I’m running a poll on Twitter regarding Mendoza. Kind of the antithesis of everyone saying “(My team) should get him.”
What should Mendoza’s signing bonus e?
a under $3 million.
b. 3-10
c 10-20
d Over 20.
How high should your team bid on a guy that might not notch 2 wins above in his pro career?
Definitely $3m or under. He has a lot of work to do, but a savvy team who has been known to develop pitches should take a flyer. Mets…are you listening?
He will look great in a Red Sox uniform!
What are you willing to go?
Yes he has SO/9 of 9.0 but the guys got a WHIP north of 1.40…if you like walks and wild pitches, then go get’em. but at 6’2″ 176 lbs, he doesn’t strike me as a solid prospect.