Jays after Another Cuban Defector:

[-MetA4-]

25 year old 1B/OF Jose Julio Ruiz

February 6th, 2010
ESPN's Jorge Arangure tweets that the Blue Jays, Rockies, and Rangers are the teams most interested in Cuban first baseman Jose Julio Ruiz. Ruiz was recently cleared to sign by the Office of Foreign Asset Control.

February 1st, 2010
Alden Gonzalez, of MLB.com, reports Cuban 1B prospect Jose Julio Ruiz is now free to sign with any major league club. ESPN's Jorge Arangure Jr. reports Ruiz has been unblocked by the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control and is now a free agent. Ruiz is "likely to get a multimillion-dollar signing bonus." Talent evaluators think Ruiz moves around well enough to be considered as a left fielder. The Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox have worked Ruiz out.

[youngLion]

Thanks for the heads up.

Is there any word on how Major League ready this guy is? At 25 you've got to think he'll have to be pretty close to being prepared for a big league job if he's going to be worth big dollars as opposed to a guy like Chapman who has more time to develop.

[j127]

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2010/02/j ... gning.html

Cuban first baseman Jose Julio Ruiz may be close to signing according to a report from Luis E. Rangel of the Miami-based Nuevo Herald, which was passed along by MLBTR's resident translator Nick Collias. Here are some quotes from Ruiz's agent, Jorge Luis Toca...
“In the coming week he should be signed. Perhaps we’ll be announcing something on Wednesday.”

“Toronto, Texas, Boston, San Francisco, Tampa Bay and Colorado are the ones who have shown the most interest. We are also expecting an offer from the Yankees.”

“The idea is to find a team where there is the most opportunity to rise quickly.”

With regards to the last point, Toca noted that the Yankees are the least appealing team because of the presence of Mark Teixeira. Despite that, Ruiz is currently working out at the Yanks' complex in the Dominican Republic, and Toca indicated that "millions" of dollars were being discussed with teams, as well as an invitation to Spring Training.

The 25-year-old Ruiz hit .305/.408/.467 over 52 games in the Serie Nacional last season before suddenly defecting to the Dominican. ESPN's Jorge Arangure noted that he was more than just a masher relegated to first base, offering speed and athleticism.

Also, I hope the Jays get in (or are in) on the Adeiny Hechevarria sweepstakes once he deals with the Office of Foreign Controls issue.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2010/02/a ... erest.html

I hope we get both Ruiz and Hechevarria!

[Michael Bradley]

If the Jays are going to overpay an international player, I'd rather it be Hechevarria. He plays a premium position (SS) and is (allegedly) 19. Much like Chapman it would be high risk/high reward, but a risk the Jays are in every position to take.

[j127]

Blue Jays closing in on Ruiz?

Blue Jays’ general manager Alex Anthopoulos just wrapped up a scouting trip to the Dominican Republic, but wouldn’t say whether Cuban first baseman Jose Julio Ruiz was one of the prospects who worked out for Jays staff.

Ruiz, 6-foot-3, 230-pound first baseman, hit .330 during a five-year career with Santiago in Cuba’s National Series, and rumours have swirled since January that the Jays had made the shortlist of teams with a chance to sign him. On Feb. 13 his agent predicted Ruiz had narrowed his field of suitors and could sign before most major league training camps opened on the weekend of Feb. 20.

Ruiz’ camp has been silent since then, but Tuesday the blog cubanballplayers.com reported that Ruiz, a left-handed batter who turns 26 next month, held a private workout for the Blue Jays. Ruiz has spent the winter training at the New York Yankees’ complex in the Dominican Republic, according to published reports.

Agents at Prestige Sports Agency, which represents Ruiz, haven’t yet replied to emails seeking comment.

That's just part of the article.

[j127]

Man, I'm pissed.

Yankees favorite among five teams for Cuban shortstop

According to sources, the Yankees remain the favorites to sign Cuban shortstop Adeinis Hechavarria.

However, they have company in chasing the 21-year-old who defected from Cuba last year.

“There are five teams that are interested,’’ a source said.

The Yankees have long been the favorites to land Hechavarria for two reasons: They have the money, and they have spent more time than any team scouting him. They have seen him in open workouts in the Dominican Republic and he has been to their complex in the DR several times to work out. The most recent trip was last week.

I want him to be a Blue Jay, not a Yankee.

[raps4life~]

I don't know much about the rules, but I'm guessing that U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control block was also in effect for Toronto, for some reason?