Yoenis Cespedes & Other Cuban FA's

Pharmcat · Post #1 » by **Pharmcat** » Mon Nov 7, 2011 10:46 pm

http://riveraveblues.com/2011/11/the-ob ... ost-58792/

thoughts?

Post #2 » by **j4remi** » Tue Nov 8, 2011 6:34 pm

With that kind of hype, I couldn't be mad if they took a shot at him though 6 years 30 million seems high for an unknown commodity...especially after Granderson's great season (and considering Granderson's age).

Dr. Detfink · Post #3 » by **Dr. Detfink** » Tue Nov 8, 2011 9:41 pm

Exactly. More youth and athleticism can help to give Granderson a day off or even dare I say supplant Swisher when his contract comes up.

Pharmcat · Post #4 » by **Pharmcat** » Tue Nov 8, 2011 10:30 pm

yanks have worked him out

so are the marlins

i say sign him

Dr. Detfink · Post #5 » by **Dr. Detfink** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 2:25 pm

Lot of teams are lining up to take a look at this kid. Yanks might be in a bidding war.

neno · Post #6 » by **neno** » Sat Nov 12, 2011 9:32 pm

A bidding war advantage ny
You don't get in a land war in asia
And you never get in a bidding war with the Yankees
Hopefully we get darvish first and this dude second he says he's 26 considering he's from cuba he's probably 30

Dr. Detfink · Post #7 » by **Dr. Detfink** » Sun Nov 13, 2011 12:35 am

Hahaha...so true about these cats and their age. Which is why I see Cash letting this one go.

Post #8 » by **moocow007** » Wed Nov 30, 2011 10:45 pm

Just in case anyone has problems with the video in the linked article...

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kREZHmOR1bg[/youtube]

Post #9 » by **moocow007** » Wed Nov 30, 2011 11:03 pm

Kind reminds me of Sammy Sosa a little.

Dr. Detfink · Post #10 » by **Dr. Detfink** » Thu Dec 1, 2011 10:49 pm

At some point, I'd like to see Yanks upgrade the LF with a guy who has some power and can field well enough so Granderson isn't the only arm that runners fear in the outfield. Use Bret to rotate and keep Granderson and Swisher fresh...

Post #11 » by **moocow007** » Thu Dec 15, 2011 2:18 am

Appears that the Yanks prefer Jorge Soler more than Cespedes. Soler is 7 years younger, 3 inches taller and some believe have a higher upside. But isnt ready for the majors yet. Also read that some clubs are concerned with Cespedes possibly not being a "natural".

Dr. Detfink · Post #12 » by **Dr. Detfink** » Thu Dec 15, 2011 9:50 pm

I like that game plan.

Post #13 » by **moocow007** » Fri Dec 16, 2011 4:27 am

Most see Soler as a 30-30 guy with the potential to be a 40 HR guy. Supposed to have great bat speed (kinda like Soriano when he first came up) and a 5-tool game.

Pushing for Jorge Soler
by Frank Campagnola on Dec 15, 2011 3:04 PM EST in New York Yankees Analysis

Yoenis Cespedes took the baseball world by storm with a bizarre scouting video uploaded to YouTube, but he isn't the only Cuban defector to make noise this winter. Jorge Soler, a 19-year-old outfielder, can't match the hype that surrounds Cespedes, but many teams believe he is the better prospect.

According to Jim Callis of Baseball America, Soler is a young athlete with five-tool potential. He stands at six-foot-three, 205 pounds, while also carrying explosive bat speed and power potential. He also has plus speed and arm strength and profiles as a classic right fielder, though he has the speed to play center.

Due to his youth, he will need some time to develop, but Callis believes he is worth the wait. Callis believes that Soler compares favorably to 2011 fifth overall selection Bubba Starling, and believes the team signing Soler would immediately add a top 11-20 prospect in all of baseball.

Additionally, the new cap on international free agents does not go into effect until July 2nd of 2012, so this may be the Yankees' last opportunity to use their wealth as an advantage in the international market without getting penalized.

Finally, the Yankees' outfield depth in the minor leagues is less than stellar. Mason Williams is their best outfield prospect, and some Major League executives have opined he may be the number two prospect in the system. However, he has yet to reach High-A ball, making him a high-risk since he is so far away from the majors.

Slade Heathcott is a former first round draft pick of the Yankees, but has yet to show he is capable of staying healthy and putting up consistent numbers. He has played just one game at High-A.

A quick scan around the Yankees minor league system does not show much else with regards to outfield talent. With Soler, the Yankees have an opportunity to use their financial advantage to add a high-end talent to their minor league system, and that is exactly what they should do.

Post #14 » by **moocow007** » Sun Dec 18, 2011 3:05 am

Appears that the Yankees are also very interested in a 3rd Cuban defector. This one is a pitcher by the name of Armando Rivero (yes 'o', not 'a').

http://riveraveblues.com/2011/11/yankees-eyeing-two-more-cuban-defectors-58914/

Yankees eyeing two more Cuban defectors

By Mike Axisa

By now you know all about outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, but he’s not the only Cuban defector on the market. According to Jesse Sanchez and George King, the Yankees also have their eyes on 19-year-old outfielder Jorge Soler and 23-year-old right-hander Armando Rivero.

Soler, a big boy at 6-foot-4 and 225 lbs., is said to be a corner outfielder with “explosive power” and a strong arm according to Baseball America (no subs. req’d).

Rivero, who stands 6-foot-3, reportedly features a fastball that touched 98 during the showcase as well as a slider, changeup, and splitter. Neither player was part of Cuba’s team in the 2009 World Baseball Classic. Both guys strutted their stuff in a showcase at the Yankees’ complex in the Dominican Republic last week.

JORGE SOLER

ARMANDO RIVERO

Yanks will likely be aggressive in going after and signing these guys (once they are declared FA's) since the new rules limiting international FA signings will be prohibitive come June.

Post #15 » by **moocow007** » Sun Dec 18, 2011 3:09 am

Just from reading scouting reports on Soler it sounds like his swing is kinda line Alphonso Soriano's swing, supposedly a long swing but extremely, extremely quick through the strikezone. Projections are that he can be a 40 homerun guy with plus speed and plus arm.

Another opinion about Soler from Jim Callis of Baseball America..

Callis believes Soler would have been a top-five pick had he been in the 2010 draft and compares him to Royals prospect Bubba Starling. Soler, 19, isn't close to major-league ready, but the 6-foot-3 outfielder is highly-regarded for his power potential. Callis believes Soler is more talented than Leonys Martin, who received a three-year, $15.5 million deal the Rangers. The Phillies, Nationals, Yankees, Cubs and Rangers are believed to be in the mix for Soler

VirginiaKnickFan · Post #16 » by **VirginiaKnickFan** » Thu Dec 29, 2011 11:58 pm

The bidding on Cespedes is suppose to start anyday now.

thebuzzardman · Post #17 » by **thebuzzardman** » Fri Dec 30, 2011 1:30 pm

The Yankees should bid high on Cuban outfielders so they can get some prospects in the organization that are good besides Pitchers, Catchers and like 1.5 outfielders.

Now, don't get me wrong, having depth in the farm at Pitcher, then Catcher is GREAT, Yanks just need to extend it a bit

Post #18 » by **moocow007** » Wed Jan 4, 2012 4:29 am

thebuzzardman wrote:The Yankees should bid high on Cuban outfielders so they can get some prospects in the organization that are good besides Pitchers, Catchers and like 1.5 outfielders.

Now, don't get me wrong, having depth in the farm at Pitcher, then Catcher is GREAT, Yanks just need to extend it a bit

Yeah I would be extremely surprised and disappointed if they didn't go after either Cespedes or Soler.

Dr. Detfink · Post #19 » by **Dr. Detfink** » Sat Jan 14, 2012 11:43 pm

ANY latin American prospect brought in especially from Cuba or the DR is 2-3 yrs older than what he says. They print birth certificates at the "Mi Kinkos."

That said, THIS IS the kind of player the Yanks need on offense. A young Bernie Williams-esque type that can work a count, run the bases well, and flash some glove. Multi-tools. Doesn't have to win any batting titles...but someone that can keep the order going. Let's face it come playoff time, the HR is NOT going to be there...and it's a death sentence to drop 20M and think a fat man like Fielder is going to carry the team when the Yanks can't with A-rod, Tex, and Cano.

The mentality should be getting big hits not BIG runs.

Post #20 » by **moocow007** » Mon Jan 16, 2012 2:51 am

Dr. Detfink wrote:ANY latin American prospect brought in especially from Cuba or the DR is 2-3 yrs older than what he says. They print birth certificates at the "Mi Kinkos."

That said, THIS IS the kind of player the Yanks need on offense. A young Bernie Williams-esque type that can work a count, run the bases well, and flash some glove. Multi-tools. Doesn't have to win any batting titles...but someone that can keep the order going. Let's face it come playoff time, the HR is NOT going to be there...and it's a death sentence to drop 20M and think a fat man like Fielder is going to carry the team when the Yanks can't with A-rod, Tex, and Cano.

The mentality should be getting big hits not BIG runs.

Are you talking about Cespedes? Cause if you are the scouting reports I've read is that he probably won't ever be a great hit for average type and would be more of a power guy that can get about 20-30 hr 80-90 rbi while hitting in the .260-.270 range. He's definitely not a Bernie Williams-esque type player. Neither is Soler from the reports.