In a few days, Yoennis Cespedes, who defected last year, will establish residency in the Dominican Republic. Major League Baseball then can declare him a free agent and set in motion what likely will be a record-setting bidding war.
Cespedes, 26, has prodigious power and last year broke Cuba's single-season home run record. The speedy center fielder also flashed his defensive skills, arm and linebacker-type physique in a 20-minute video called "The Showcase" that drew thousands of hits on YouTube. Scouts say Cespedes can be major league-ready this season.
By not coming to live in the United States right away, Cespedes remained ineligible for baseball's amateur draft. Instead, teams must submit bids to his agent, Adam Katz. After the high bid is revealed, teams may increase their offers.
The Pirates are expected to be among the bidders. However, the New York Yankees, Miami Marlins, Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox are seen as likely frontrunners to sign Cespedes.
The highest contract for a Cuban player is the $30.25-million, six-year deal pitcher Aroldis Chapman got from the Cincinnati Reds in January 2010. At the Winter Meetings last month, several industry insiders predicted Cespedes will top Chapman's mark by at least $20 million — which, as usual, is bad news for the Pirates.
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5. Yoennis Cespedes, the latest international sensation
Yoennis Cespedes, the talented Cuban defector, is expected to establish residency in the Dominican Republic and be cleared to play by US officials soon after the New Year. And then he's likely to sign for more than the $30.25 million countryman Aroldis Chapman received from the Reds, according to nearly all of the dozen executives I polled.
The reasons for such a large contract, according to one team official, include a lower injury risk than Chapman, a larger number of interested teams, the new CBA and hype created by YouTube videos showcasing Cespedes' superlative athletic ability.
Baseball officials with expertise in Latin America believe the Yankees, Cubs, Phillies, Blue Jays, Rangers, Tigers, Marlins and White Sox will pursue Cespedes next month. The Nationals can't be ruled out because some scouts believe Cespedes will be a center fielder — a position Washington has been unable to fill for the long term. (Other evaluators believe Cespedes, who possesses a strong throwing arm, is a better fit in right field.)
One scout who has seen Cespedes said he's best suited to hit fifth or sixth, with the expectation that he could hit home runs, collect RBI and steal bases without the scrutiny that would come in the leadoff or cleanup spots. "That way, you don't put added pressure on top of what will come with all the money he gets," the scout said. A relatively low number of scouts view Cespedes as a potential leadoff man.
