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

[emkayseven]

Awesome, thanks. Saw that episode as this season's premier and remembered his name when this hype started

Welcome to the site!

[Jay]

Do they not have walks in cuban baseball?

[Erick]

Do they not have walks in cuban baseball?

No point in walking when the pitchers are throwing batting practice.

[Party]

Every team wins the championship in Cuban baseball.

[MiamiHomer]

It could take two months for MLB to declare Cuban outfielder Yoenis Cespedes a free agent, reports Paul Hoynes of The Cleveland Plain Dealer (on Twitter). The 26-year-old became a household name last week thanks to the his 20-minute showcase video.

The Red Sox, Phillies, Indians, Blue Jays, Pirates, Rangers, Tigers, Nationals, Athletics, Marlins, and Yankees are among the teams with interest in Cespedes. There is some belief within baseball that he could wind up with a contract in excess of the $30MM Aroldis Chapman received two offseasons years ago. Cespedes is represented by Adam Katz of Wasserman Media Group.

A National League scout says that center fielder Yoenis Cespedes is likely to be moved to one of the corner outfield spots in the majors. Yesterday, we learned that the Cuban defector may not become a free agent for two months.

-MLBTR

[The_Godfather]

Don't want. I doubt he stays in CF, he is going to struggle with off speed stuff for his first couple years, and the 5 million plus can be better spent elsewhere. Sounds perfect in theory to have a Cuban CF prospect come out of nowhere for us to sign, but when things are too good to be true....

[HUGG]

How I've felt all along, but didn't want to be a mibs.

[MiamiHomer]

If it takes him two months to post for FA then the Marlins will probably have a better idea of where they stand since there's a good chance they signed some people by then.

[MiamiHomer]

SI_JonHeyman Jon Heyman
people here are raving about cuban OF cespedes. i bet he beats chapman's $30M

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[MiamiHomer]

JimBowdenESPNxm JIM BOWDEN
Jennings told us @Mlbnetworkradio that Cespedes reminds him of Bo Jackson...just the body small waist and broad shoulders & premium athlete

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[THE_REAL_MIBS]

The tools and the talent of Yoenis Cespedes are not in dispute.

Where there are reservations over the Cuban-born outfielder is his cost and readiness to play immediately in the big leagues.

According to a league source familiar with his status, the asking price for Cespedes could be double that of Aroldis Chapman, the Cuban pitcher with the Reds.

In January of 2010, Chapman signed a six-year deal worth $30.25 million. Cespedes, the source said, could be seeking more than double Chapman’s salary over eight years. Technically, no negotiations can take place until after he is declared a free agent.

The Marlins recently traveled to the Dominican Republic to attend a private workout for Cespedes, the 26-year-old who defected from Cuba in the summer. The Red Sox, Cubs and Yankees are among the teams with interest.

The Marlins see Cespedes as a center fielder, while Boston is looking at him in right field.

There also is uncertainty on when Cespedes will become a free agent. Insiders say it could be two more weeks or two more months.

Right now, he is in the process of gaining residency in the Dominican Republic. Once that happens, it shouldn’t take long for him to be declared an MLB free agent. It’s a matter of filing paper work.

The longer Cespedes waits to sign with a club, the more it hinders his ability to be game ready for the 2012 opener.

He hasn’t played competitive baseball since he left Cuba.

If he can be signed before mid-December, he could play Winter League ball, which would help him be prepared to compete for an Opening Day roster spot in Spring Training.

What it will take to sign Cespedes

[Valid]

What it will take to sign Cespedes

Chapman's I suck salary.

[THE_REAL_MIBS]

Really annoying how it does that. I think I fixed it. May have missed something.

[MiamiHomer]

DKnobler DKnobler
Cespedes deal will be big, agents positioning him not as comparable to previous Cubans, but as 26 year old MLB impact player

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[Jorge18]

This Cespedes deal could be a disaster if he doesn't become what everyone thinks he will become.