Yoenis Cespedes: Signs w/ A's for 4/36

[Swifty]

This is probably a dumb question, but if this guy is such a super-duper star why are we only hearing about him now at "26."?

I feel like I do a pretty good job staying informed about baseball / baseball talent, I think a lot of people here are like that too. I'm pretty sure we knew about Yu Darvish while he was still in his second trimester, why is it that it's taken this long to hear about this guy?

[Beef]

It is somewhat interesting; we've known about Gourriel for quite some time. I'd be cautious about this whole thing (the player, his age, the reports about him, paying him a bunch of money), but I think I'm willing to chalk up a majority of the lack of knowledge to Cuba

[jOOj]

We aren't allowed to like communists.

[Swifty]

Freaking communists.

[....J....]

[QUOTE=Stimpson J Cat;214196]This is probably a dumb question, but if this guy is such a super-duper star why are we only hearing about him now at "26."?

I feel like I do a pretty good job staying informed about baseball / baseball talent, I think a lot of people here are like that too. I'm pretty sure we knew about Yu Darvish while he was still in his second trimester, why is it that it's taken this long to hear about this guy?[/QUOTE]

Cuban gov't controls any and all news that come in and off that island.

[Swifty]

Aroldis was indeed a well kept secret.

[Shamrock]

Sounds like a Preston Wilson in his prime...which I'm fine with.

[Namaste]

Sounds like a Preston Wilson in his prime...which I'm fine with.

If he throws in the awesome spit when he goes yard like Preston we love him

[Shamrock]

Prime Preston Wilson with better defense even. That's a great player right there on a well below market deal. Likely more SB and less AVG. I'll take that any day in CF

[Fritz]

You know the offseason is exciting when Shammy makes an appearance from boning ladies all throughout New York City.

[MiamiHomer]

The market is strong for Cuban defector Yoenis Cespedes, who currently resides in the Dominican Republic. The paperwork required for the center fielder to play baseball in the United States should be done this month, advisor Edgar Mercedes told Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus. Said Mercedes, "I'm confident that he'll be in spring training with a major league club."

Private workouts are beginning this week, with a large Marlins contingent scheduled to visit Thursday. The Yankees, Red Sox, Phillies, Indians, Blue Jays, and Pirates are among the teams that will visit in the coming weeks, Mercedes told Goldstein. Mercedes also answered questions about the legendary showcase video he produced for Cespedes.

On Monday, the Rangers, Tigers, Nationals, and Athletics were named as other clubs interested in Cespedes, who is represented by Adam Katz of Wasserman Media Group.

Latest On Yoenis Cespedes

[MiamiHomer]

SedanoShow Jorge Sedano
Ozzie Guillen, Jeffey Loria, Tony Perez, Larry Beinfest have left to DR to a private workout to see Cuban CF Yoenis Cespedes #790TheTicket

cool

[Big Z]

Ozzie Guillen respecto a Yoennis Cespedes: "solo lo vi tirar y batear y lo comparo con la fuerza de Raul Mondesi, me gustaria tenerlo"

Tweet from Ramon Carmona (Carmona TV).

Translated:

"I just saw him throw and hit, and I compare his power to that of Raul Mondesi, I would like to have him".

[Omar]

I'd translate it as strength, not power, but similar things.

[MiamiHomer]

Aroldis Chapman's big contract surprised some people as much as his 105 mph fastball.

Get prepared to be surprised again.

Cuban outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, currently working out for teams in the Dominican Republic, will likely match or even top the six-year, $30.5 million contract that the Reds gave Chapman two winters ago, two veteran scouts who follow the international market predicted Thursday.

"I'd take him over Chapman," one of the scouts said.

Cespedes defected from Cuba over the summer. He has yet to be declared a free agent, but that's expected to happen soon. Scouts familiar with the market say it's hard to pick a favorite to sign him, but the Yankees and Marlins are both known to have strong interest, and the Red Sox, Rangers, Cubs and possibly even the Pirates and A's could be heavily involved, as well.

Cespedes was one of the stars of the Cuban national team, and scouts drooled over him when he played in the 2009 World Baseball Classic.

They still do now.

"He's a five-tool guy, built like an NFL running back," one scout said. "He has tremendous raw power, with all the tools to be a 30-30 guy in the big leagues. His mother pitched on the Cuban national softball team, so he has athleticism in the family."

Asked for a comparable player who has played in the big leagues, the scout first suggested Bo Jackson, then back away, but only slightly. If you want to judge for yourself, there's a YouTube video that has already made the rounds.

The question, as with all international players, is how quickly Cespedes can adjust to American culture and to American baseball. He's already 26 years old (five years older than Chapman was when he signed), so it's not as if he is some young prospect.

Chapman, even with the 105 mph fastball, has yet to live up to expectations.

Then again, if Cespedes is a 30-30 guy in the big leagues, he's worth Chapman money and even more.

And he'll probably get it.

Cespedes could top Chapman's $30 mill contract