It emerged in January that intriguing Cuban talent Oscar Colas — who holds promise both as a pitcher and position player — was seeking to launch a big-league career. While he departed his home island to pursue that dream, there are some other complications that must still be navigated.
Colas drew attention last year for his high-quality showing with Japan’s Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks. But as Jim Allen reports for Kyodo News, that appearance left some strings attached in the world’s top non-MLB league.
You’ll want to read Allen’s piece for the full rundown, but the gist is that Colas’s contract grants the Hawks five option years. His representatives believe the deal should be invalidated, at least after its initial term expires after the 2020 season.
There are several issues with the original agreement, Colas’s camp contends. For one thing, they say it was signed before he reached the age of consent under Japanese law (and without the signature of his guardian). For another, Colas’s reps claim the agreement was orchestrated by the Hawks and Cuban baseball officials, with Colas not fully informed of some key terms. Colas’s mother says the family believes it was “deceived” by the process. She alleges that the family never had an understanding of the options or a chance to review the contract before it was put in front of Colas to sign during a news conference. Allen’s report makes clear that there are several messy underlying factual disagreements, including whether Colas even personally signed certain documents.
It is not clear at this point whether and how this matter will be resolved. Colas’s reps have offered that he would play in 2020 if he’s allowed to depart thereafter, but the team has unsurprisingly insisted it retains control rights thereafter.
Colas will surely draw interest from MLB organizations if and when he’s able to market himself, whether through the posting process or as a free agent. Whatever the merits of the underlying factual disputes, this represents yet another instance in which a ballplayer has become entangled on the largely unmarked, obstacle-strewn path from Cuba to the majors.
Can a major league team trade for his rights? Maybe that solves the issue for both parties and nets a major league team a prospect. Perfect opportunity for a team like Orioles to get a prospect for only money.
Good luck with that buddy. Your numbers aren’t even that great. You would’ve been smart to finish out the season in Asia as America probably won’t have baseball this year.
If they “trade” for him, how is that “only money?” Did you mean buy his rights? If so, I think that is what the posting system is all about.
Yes, trading money or even minor leaguer. I just don’t know all the rules. I’ve seen major league teams make deals with Asian leagues on players rights so was wondering if it could go the other way. Not posting the player, just a straight trade of assets wether that be just money or player etc.
The MLBPA would never allow a player to be traded to another league.
And the owners would never allow it. They don’t want bidding wars.
I dont know the Japanese legal system, but I cant believe they would allow minors to enter into contracts without their parents being involved also.
Man, systematic manipulation of the amateur market with no representation is so antithetical to American values (I’m aware this is what the country is built on) that it’s gross. It’s a stretch but it makes you wonder if Capitalism ultimately eats itself alive every time by leaning too far into compounding the advantage for the group in power.
bro why did u turn this into a rant against capitalism lol, take the politics somewhere else
I agree with you Tom.
How is that a rant? It seems like a lucid and thought provoking inquiry.
bro, the site dedicated to the signing of your teams favorite player driven exclusively by capital consideration. What you’re seeing with baseball not striking a deal is capital consideration. I also think “politics” might mean something different than you think it does.
Trade them Michael Moore, or one of those other tools who have proclaimed over the last 20y the great positives of commie values in both Cuba and venezuela and then deport them there.
Bkbk: Shouldn’t you be in some communist chat group?
M’s!!!!!
here is some curious news for sure…can teams still trade minors players for bonus slots?
Think it’s just international $
yeah i misread and figured he’d become a FA during the roster freeze, but in theory if it was happening how what would they trade the slots for?
here is some curious news for sure…wonder how current events might impact bonus pools and trading of slots
whoops double post. disregard the original post.
Dude obviously needs some development, but I’d love to see another Ohtani type in MLB.
Me too. I think by 2030, every team will have at least one two-way player on their roster. Maybe not Ohtani level, but a guy who can hit and pitch around a league average level.
Would like to get a perspective from the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks also. They could have been led to believe the player was already 18, and players have NEVER lied about their real age. Also would like to know if the player had representation present at the signing or if he was really alone or if any of this is true. Did the player sign under duress?
It might all be true and this contract should be voided. Or it could be representatives using falsehoods and underhanded tactics to make their way to North America.
The Cuban federation controls the player’s career, any contract signed through them should be void
C’mon Al Avila…
Do SOMETHING!!!
About what? Until this situation is resolved, Avila can’t do anything. No GM can.
Maybe he’s behind Avila at a 4 way stop?
I prefer RC, myself
He’s got a much better chance of playing full time in Japan then MLB right now. I can understand if he thought they wouldn’t use the options to keep him. If he even understood what that meant.
Oscar Colas has been connected to the White Sox for some time now (soxon35th.com/2020/05/25/cuban-prospect-oscar-cola…). It’s no surprise considering the history the team has with Cuban players that has actually increased over the past decade and currently includes 4 projected starters (C Yasmani Grandal, 1B Jose Abreu, 3B Yoan Moncada, CF Luis Robert) in their lineup along with Cuban/American Carlos Rodon in their rotation. This is the first mention of legal issues I have seen regarding Colas and his Japanese contract.
Just a matter of time before he is officially on the White Sox
It was only a matter of time before someone challenged a contract signed through the Cuban federation, which is the same as the Cuban govt. What negotiating leverage could the player possibly have? “Heres the contract, these are the terms,sign it or stay playing in Cuba for pennies, oh and you can forget about making the national team too”. I didnt expect MLB to hold such a contract up, but then they got in bed with the Cuban govt, so who knows what will happen to Colas.
St Louis Cardinals better sign this kid when he’s a free agent. The bowtie wearing GM in St Louis had the chance to sign Luis Robert but he and the cardinal organization are so cheap!! The Cardinals could of Traded for Fernando Tatis Jr years back.. Tatis Jr wanted to play in St Louis like is father.. Mozalik really screwed up there to. How does he still have a jo.