Headlines

  • Phillies To Sign J.T. Realmuto
  • Indians, Cesar Hernandez Agree To New Deal
  • Nationals Sign Brad Hand
  • Mets Have Made Offer To Trevor Bauer
  • Astros Re-Sign Michael Brantley
  • Latest On Universal DH, Expanded Playoffs
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Indians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2020-21 Top 50 MLB Free Agents With Predictions
    • 2020-21 MLB Free Agent Tracker
    • 2020-21 MLB Free Agent List
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2021
    • 2021 MLB Arbitration Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • Last 100 Comments
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

A’s Sign Cuban Outfielder Dairon Blanco

By Steve Adams | December 19, 2017 at 11:49pm CDT

The A’s announced yesterday that they’ve inked free-agent outfielder Dairon Blanco. The 24-year-old left his native Cuba back in the spring of 2016 and was declared a free agent by MLB last November. Terms of the deal weren’t reported, but the A’s are in the metaphorical “penalty box” after blowing past last year’s international pool, so the deal can’t guarantee Blanco more than $300K.

Blanco is a lifetime .303/.369/.409 hitter in parts of four pro seasons in Cuba (916 plate appearances). At the time of his departure from Cuba and MLB’s declaration of free agency for the right-handed hitter, Blanco was said by Baseball America’s Ben Badler and Fangraphs’ Eric Longenhagen to possess 80-grade speed on the 20-80 scale but a lesser set of other tools. Longenhagen put a 40 on his arm last November, and Badler questioned his natural hitting abilities.

By the time Spring Training gets underway, it will have been more than two years since Blanco has suited up for a pro game. He’ll assuredly require some minor league time in 2018 and possibly beyond the coming season before he emerges as a viable option for the A’s. But, Oakland has no clear option in center field and could very well need a left fielder during or after the 2018 campaign, depending on the status of Matt Joyce, who’s entering the second season of a two-year deal.

Certainly, the team hopes that Dustin Fowler will be able to hold down a regular spot in their outfield (ideally, in center) for years to come, though his ability to contribute is tied directly to his ability to recover from a significant knee injury suffered in his MLB debut with the Yankees last year. Expecting Blanco to emerge as a candidate to log significant big league time this coming season seems optimistic, though his apparently blistering speed and a Gold Glove award in Cuba could make him an intriguing fourth outfield option at the very least, if he can prove competent with the bat.

Oakland’s assistant GM Dan Feinstein spoke highly of Blanco to Melissa Lockard of OaklandClubhouse.com, telling her that the A’s have been scouting Blanco for more than a year during his workouts in the Dominican Republic. “[Blanco] has a track record of success in the Cuba, and possesses tools that are hard to come by,” said Feinstein. “He’s very athletic, and a true 80 runner with the ability to play all three outfield spots. Profiles as leadoff hitter who will occasionally put one in the seats.”

Share 0 Retweet 7 Send via email0

2017-18 International Prospects 2017-18 International Signings Dairon Blanco Oakland Athletics Transactions

Free Agent Rumors: Moustakas, Cahill, Mets, Dodgers, Hirano, Indians, Twins
Main
Phillies Sign Carlos Santana
18 comments
newest oldest

Comments

  1. emt tim

    3 years ago

    6 hours late lol

    Like
    Reply
    • TheChanceyColborn

      3 years ago

      They probably wanted more information and quotes/analysis from insiders.

      4 Like
      Reply
    • lowtalker1

      3 years ago

      You don’t have be a dingle berry about it.

      5 Like
      Reply
    • bigdaddyt

      3 years ago

      Remember when MLB trade rumours was within 2 hours on report news cause I member

      Like
      Reply
      • Cat Mando

        3 years ago

        Remember when people didn’t whine about every little thing, especially a free site that complies info all in one place ….Free for the convenience of fans. I remember those days which sadly seem to be gone.

        4 Like
        Reply
        • emt tim

          3 years ago

          lol my intention was to be seen as a joke….i feel like they are typically faster than BR and MLB at bat.

          Like
          Reply
        • Cat Mando

          3 years ago

          Sorry, but it didn’t read that way as you can tell by reactions.

          2 Like
          Reply
  2. xabial

    3 years ago

    80-grade speed?

    Only other prospect I know with 80-grade speed is the one you guys got as the center of Sonny Gray trade.

    Jorge Mateo.

    Billy Beane is hoarding 80-grade speed prospects.

    1 Like
    Reply
    • stug14

      3 years ago

      Sounds like he’s going to be super fast when he runs from the plate to the dugout after he strikes out.

      4 Like
      Reply
    • czontixhldr

      3 years ago

      Phillies’ prospect Roman Quinn is thought by some to have 80 grade speed:

      thatballsouttahere.com/2016/10/31/phillies-roman-q…

      Check out the inside-the-park HR in the video inthe link.

      Like
      Reply
    • lowtalker1

      3 years ago

      Jank from the padres graded out as 80 speed
      He is really fast but Margot is faster

      Like
      Reply
  3. madmc44

    3 years ago

    For that CF in Oakland—Jackie Bradley, Jr. is the guy.

    If BB trades for him and removes him from the Bright Lights of Boston—you will have a star.

    JBJ has grown as a player–I’m sure DD would want a good player for him only because he knows his value.

    Like
    Reply
    • emt tim

      3 years ago

      why? Lol we have Fowler and Powell

      Like
      Reply
      • bkwalker510

        3 years ago

        JBJ is light years better than both of those guys.

        Like
        Reply
        • AsNchill

          3 years ago

          He’s also far more expensive than we can afford to give up right now. The A’s previous couple of moves lead me to believe they aren’t willing to give up any of our pitching prospects until they have an idea of what will work.

          Like
          Reply
    • AsNchill

      3 years ago

      We’re not trading for JBJ. That would require us giving up a lot of prospects at positions we’re unsure of at the moment. Going for something inhouse is a better option right now.

      Like
      Reply
  4. Joe Kerr

    3 years ago

    If you have ever seen ANY of his posts, that’s all it is, he is a useless troll, nothing more.

    Like
    Reply
  5. Joe Kerr

    3 years ago

    They way they talk about this guy, it seems like he is Billy Hamilton but without the arm.

    Like
    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.
Log in Register

ad: 300x250_1_MLB

    Top Stories

    Phillies To Sign J.T. Realmuto

    Indians, Cesar Hernandez Agree To New Deal

    Nationals Sign Brad Hand

    Mets Have Made Offer To Trevor Bauer

    Astros Re-Sign Michael Brantley

    Latest On Universal DH, Expanded Playoffs

    Yankees Trade Adam Ottavino To Red Sox

    Yankees Acquire Jameson Taillon

    Astros Sign Jason Castro

    Red Sox To Sign Garrett Richards

    Recent

    Tigers To Sign Derek Holland

    Phillies Sign Ivan Nova To Minors Contract

    Braves Sign Ehire Adrianza To Minors Contract

    MLBTR Chat Transcript

    Phillies To Sign J.T. Realmuto

    Twins, Brewers Have Talked With Marcus Semien

    Indians, Cesar Hernandez Agree To New Deal

    AL Central Notes: Indians, Rosario, Bradley, Brebbia, Tigers

    Nationals Sign Brad Hand

    Mets Have Made Offer To Trevor Bauer

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • Trevor Bauer Rumors
    • Kris Bryant Rumors
    • J.T. Realmuto Rumors
    • Marcell Ozuna Rumors
    • Masahiro Tanaka Rumors
    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Go Ad-Free
    • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
    • 2020-21 Top 50 MLB Free Agents With Predictions
    • 2020-21 MLB Free Agent Tracker
    • 2020-21 MLB Free Agent List
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2021
    • 2021 MLB Arbitration Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Indians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    ad: 160x600_MLB

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • Feeds by Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    hide arrowsFOX Sports Engage Network scroll to top
    Close

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version