Cuba's New Revolution
By Harrison Golden
The Sports Post
Dec. 4, 2014
In Major League Baseball, the rush supersedes all else. It has become somewhat of a global rule: players who want swift pitches, lavish checks, booming crowds, and glory will dream of joining the sport’s largest organization.
Cuba’s most ambitious players often share that vision, albeit through the doldrums of slow fastballs. Professional baseball, as played in the communist nation, is largely ho-hum. Few athletes are worthy of leagues off the island, while those who are skilled enough are fleeing in droves. A quarter of those on Cuba’s 2013 World Baseball Classic team are no longer on the roster, with most defecting from the country, hungry for an American field.
The consequences of defecting from Cuba remain dangerous. Before reaching their destination in the United States, defectors often trudge through other nations. The reason is money. Traveling straight to the U.S., without pit stops, would subject a player to amateur status and limit his chances to make millions in baseball. Anyone wishing to be an MLB free agent—and enjoy its monetary perks—must first establish residence outside the United States or Cuba. Such has been the rule since October 1960, when a trade embargo began between the two nations.
By Harrison Golden
The Sports Post
Dec. 4, 2014
In Major League Baseball, the rush supersedes all else. It has become somewhat of a global rule: players who want swift pitches, lavish checks, booming crowds, and glory will dream of joining the sport’s largest organization.
Cuba’s most ambitious players often share that vision, albeit through the doldrums of slow fastballs. Professional baseball, as played in the communist nation, is largely ho-hum. Few athletes are worthy of leagues off the island, while those who are skilled enough are fleeing in droves. A quarter of those on Cuba’s 2013 World Baseball Classic team are no longer on the roster, with most defecting from the country, hungry for an American field.
The consequences of defecting from Cuba remain dangerous. Before reaching their destination in the United States, defectors often trudge through other nations. The reason is money. Traveling straight to the U.S., without pit stops, would subject a player to amateur status and limit his chances to make millions in baseball. Anyone wishing to be an MLB free agent—and enjoy its monetary perks—must first establish residence outside the United States or Cuba. Such has been the rule since October 1960, when a trade embargo began between the two nations.
Ask most of the nation’s baseball exports how they fled, and they will have chilling tales to share. After five failed attempts to enter the United States by way of Mexico, Outfielder Yasiel Puig sought help from Mexican drug traffickers. The smugglers held him captive in a motel room, demanded 20 percent of his future earnings, then got him to his destination. Jose Fernandez, now an All-Star pitcher for the Miami Marlins, left the island at age 15. On a boat bound for Mexico, he and his mother conquered tides so restless they nearly drowned. Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez, whose dominant pitching helped the New York Yankees win three consecutive World Series, boarded a raft and defected from Cuba on Christmas Day 1997. After the U.S. Coast Guard spotted him on his raft, he was sent to a Bahamian prison before taking asylum in Costa Rica.
Perhaps the greatest sacrifice Cuban players make when fleeing is their history. In almost all cases, they leave their native country knowing they will likely never return.
But defection, for all its risk, has brought surges of talent and big contracts to today’s Major Leagues. The wave emerged in January 2010, when Aroldis Chapman agreed to six years and $30 million with the Cincinnati Reds; in his first season, he threw a 105 MPH fastball, the fastest ever recorded in the Major Leagues. Since then, most new contracts have stumped those before them.
In 2012, outfielder Yoenis Cespedes signed the largest contract of any Cuban player in history, accepting a four-year, $36 million deal to play for the Oakland Athletics, with whom he has won two home run derbies and shown his dynamic arm. Outfielder Yasiel Puig broke that record last year, with a seven-year, $42 million contract from the Los Angeles Dodgers.
This past July, Odrisamer Despaigne, who left Cuba in February, was five outs away from becoming the first San Diego Padres pitcher to throw a no-hitter. This fall, first baseman Jose Abreu, who signed a six-year, $68 million contract with the Chicago White Sox last October, overcame early-season injuries to unanimously become the 2014 AL Rookie of the Year. Five Cuban-born players—Abreu, Chapman, Cespedes, Puig, and second baseman Alexei Ramirez—partook in this year’s All-Star Game. These emerging stars, four of them under 30 years old, currently total $206 million in contracts.
Cuban players seem to be gaining value and confidence by the year. In late August, when outfielder Rusney Castillo signed a record seven-year, $75 million with the Boston Red Sox, team executives showed growing sureness that athletes who make it out of Cuba could handle the big leagues.
“It’s been a revelation that these guys are pretty much major league-ready,” San Francisco Giants President Larry Baer told USA Today. “That may not have been [the thinking] when Cuban players started signing.”
These successes have spiked the value of incoming prospects from Cuba. This offseason, two individuals in particular—power-hitting outfielder Yasmany Tomas and infield prodigy Yoan Moncada—are capturing the league’s attention. The former reached a $68.5 million deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks last week, while the latter is following closely behind. It’s only a matter of time before a high bidder spends nine figures on a Cuban player. Never before has baseball experienced a revolution of this weight and quick pace.
Tomas, who left Cuba in June and briefly lived in Haiti, turned 24 on Nov. 14. He celebrated his birthday with an exhibition in the Dominican Instructional League. After smacking and hustling his way to a triple, he got the gift he wanted, a deal to play in Major League Baseball.
Tomas, at 6’4” and 240 pounds, is a burly force. His handshake, one scout told ESPN.com, grips like a vise. Whether crushing heaters or chasing breaking balls, he swings his hips all the same, leaning toward the ball while keeping his head and back still. Tomas played five seasons with Cuba’s Serie Nacional, the country’s top baseball league, and he was an all-star in that time, batting over .300 and becoming a staple of home run derbies.
The dozens of MLB teams who scouted for Tomas this offseason filed reports of stats and tales alike. Scouts expect him to hit between 25 and 30 home runs per season. Despite swinging too often and having a below-average defensive game, Tomas has what today’s front offices want—offensive might. As one scout wrote, “Power is the calling card for Tomas.”
And then there are the urban legends. Some say Tomas once hit a home run that wrecked a ladder and terrified the painter standing atop it. Others have heard that, while practicing with a team, one of his home runs landed in a rival team’s nearby facility. Rumor has it that his towering shots are responsible for numerous broken windows, particularly in a Philadelphia Phillies training complex. These stories may not all be true, but they have energized Tomas’ admirers in a very real way.
The widespread battle for Tomas has been a major highlight this MLB offseason. Throughout the past few months, roughly a dozen teams—including the Braves, Cardinals, Cubs, Dodgers, Giants, Mariners, Phillies, Padres, Royals, Red Sox and Twins—pursued the slugger. Each of these organizations had the same rationale: Tomas seems to have many strong years ahead, and at a time when run-scoring is at a 42-year low, this power hitter will likely deliver.
Arizona was, by no means, a favorite to acquire Tomas. But the Diamondbacks’ successful bid is not shocking, for Chase Field needs a jolt. Losing an MLB-worst 98 games in 2014 has left them with an edge, including the highest international bonus pool and a No. 1 pick in the upcoming amateur draft. Signing Tomas seems fitting for this evolving squad.
Perhaps the greatest sacrifice Cuban players make when fleeing is their history. In almost all cases, they leave their native country knowing they will likely never return.
But defection, for all its risk, has brought surges of talent and big contracts to today’s Major Leagues. The wave emerged in January 2010, when Aroldis Chapman agreed to six years and $30 million with the Cincinnati Reds; in his first season, he threw a 105 MPH fastball, the fastest ever recorded in the Major Leagues. Since then, most new contracts have stumped those before them.
In 2012, outfielder Yoenis Cespedes signed the largest contract of any Cuban player in history, accepting a four-year, $36 million deal to play for the Oakland Athletics, with whom he has won two home run derbies and shown his dynamic arm. Outfielder Yasiel Puig broke that record last year, with a seven-year, $42 million contract from the Los Angeles Dodgers.
This past July, Odrisamer Despaigne, who left Cuba in February, was five outs away from becoming the first San Diego Padres pitcher to throw a no-hitter. This fall, first baseman Jose Abreu, who signed a six-year, $68 million contract with the Chicago White Sox last October, overcame early-season injuries to unanimously become the 2014 AL Rookie of the Year. Five Cuban-born players—Abreu, Chapman, Cespedes, Puig, and second baseman Alexei Ramirez—partook in this year’s All-Star Game. These emerging stars, four of them under 30 years old, currently total $206 million in contracts.
Cuban players seem to be gaining value and confidence by the year. In late August, when outfielder Rusney Castillo signed a record seven-year, $75 million with the Boston Red Sox, team executives showed growing sureness that athletes who make it out of Cuba could handle the big leagues.
“It’s been a revelation that these guys are pretty much major league-ready,” San Francisco Giants President Larry Baer told USA Today. “That may not have been [the thinking] when Cuban players started signing.”
These successes have spiked the value of incoming prospects from Cuba. This offseason, two individuals in particular—power-hitting outfielder Yasmany Tomas and infield prodigy Yoan Moncada—are capturing the league’s attention. The former reached a $68.5 million deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks last week, while the latter is following closely behind. It’s only a matter of time before a high bidder spends nine figures on a Cuban player. Never before has baseball experienced a revolution of this weight and quick pace.
Tomas, who left Cuba in June and briefly lived in Haiti, turned 24 on Nov. 14. He celebrated his birthday with an exhibition in the Dominican Instructional League. After smacking and hustling his way to a triple, he got the gift he wanted, a deal to play in Major League Baseball.
Tomas, at 6’4” and 240 pounds, is a burly force. His handshake, one scout told ESPN.com, grips like a vise. Whether crushing heaters or chasing breaking balls, he swings his hips all the same, leaning toward the ball while keeping his head and back still. Tomas played five seasons with Cuba’s Serie Nacional, the country’s top baseball league, and he was an all-star in that time, batting over .300 and becoming a staple of home run derbies.
The dozens of MLB teams who scouted for Tomas this offseason filed reports of stats and tales alike. Scouts expect him to hit between 25 and 30 home runs per season. Despite swinging too often and having a below-average defensive game, Tomas has what today’s front offices want—offensive might. As one scout wrote, “Power is the calling card for Tomas.”
And then there are the urban legends. Some say Tomas once hit a home run that wrecked a ladder and terrified the painter standing atop it. Others have heard that, while practicing with a team, one of his home runs landed in a rival team’s nearby facility. Rumor has it that his towering shots are responsible for numerous broken windows, particularly in a Philadelphia Phillies training complex. These stories may not all be true, but they have energized Tomas’ admirers in a very real way.
The widespread battle for Tomas has been a major highlight this MLB offseason. Throughout the past few months, roughly a dozen teams—including the Braves, Cardinals, Cubs, Dodgers, Giants, Mariners, Phillies, Padres, Royals, Red Sox and Twins—pursued the slugger. Each of these organizations had the same rationale: Tomas seems to have many strong years ahead, and at a time when run-scoring is at a 42-year low, this power hitter will likely deliver.
Arizona was, by no means, a favorite to acquire Tomas. But the Diamondbacks’ successful bid is not shocking, for Chase Field needs a jolt. Losing an MLB-worst 98 games in 2014 has left them with an edge, including the highest international bonus pool and a No. 1 pick in the upcoming amateur draft. Signing Tomas seems fitting for this evolving squad.
Moncada’s exit from Cuba differs from other tales of escape. Unlike the defectors before him, the 6-foot, 210-pound switch hitter left the island with government permission. He has a legal Cuban passport and can return home at any time. After decades of Cubans risking their lives to flee, the agreement is among the first of its kind, a mutual bridge between the communist state and the baseball world.
Why now is Cuba lifting its edict for this talent? The answer remains a mystery and will likely unfold once Moncada comes stateside.
Moncada is more than a political symbol. The 19-year-old, like Tomas, has what scouts want: a disciplined and robust bat proven to deliver. In two seasons with Cienfuegos in Serie Nacional, he batted .277 with a .388 on-base percentage, also playing in the league’s All-Star games and home run derbies. Slapping line drives, in particular, has been his specialty. And having gone 13-for-18 in stolen bases during his rookie season, the free agent’s running game warrants note, too.
The teenager advertised his skills Nov. 12 at a facility in Guatemala. With over 60 scouts from almost every MLB team in attendance, Moncada ran a 60-yard dash in under seven seconds. He took batting practice, showing raw power from both sides of the plate. In the field, he picked up ground balls and threw them to first base on target. Most scouts in attendance agreed that he is well rounded, comparing him to fellow Cubans like Puig and Jorge Soler.
Moncada’s defensive versatility may help attract a wider slew of teams. He has a strong enough arm for second or third base, while in center field his speed flourishes. Depending on which MLB scout one asks, the answer for where to put Moncada differs. With each team holding different plans for the prospect, high demand is a given.
Moncada may become the highest-paid amateur player in baseball history. Yahoo Sports columnist Jeff Passan recently spoke to four MLB club executives, each of whom forecast a $30 million to $40 million deal for the prospect. Because Moncada is under 23 and has not played professionally for five years, any team that wants him must spend its share of the league’s international bonus pool. They would also have to pay a 100 percent tax on the overages and limit prospect bonuses to $300,000 a season for two years. In all, the 19-year-old could cost a team nearly $80 million, a figure for only the richest or most ambitious organizations.
This offseason, the New York Yankees have equal parts wealth and zeal. The latter is especially pronounced, with the team missing the playoffs for a second straight year. Also, given the retirement of shortstop Derek Jeter and the uncertain reliability of third baseman Alex Rodriguez, their infield is short-staffed. Regarding budgets, the Yankees have already eclipsed their spending limit this offseason, so fiscally speaking, they have less to lose than other teams. Money, after all, has rarely been an issue for this club, which spent $175 million on Japanese pitcher Masahiro Tanaka last winter.
Unlike the defectors before him, Moncada left the island with government permission. The agreement is the first of its kind, a mutual bridge between the communist state and the baseball world.
The Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Angels, and Tampa Bay Rays have also surpassed this year’s amateur spending limit. With growing revenues, money is less of an issue for these teams as well.
The Atlanta Braves may also compete for Moncada. The team has built an executive game plan heavy on scouts, a half dozen of whom have seen the prospect play. The Braves’ budget is thin, but after 14 years without a NLCS berth, they are starving for victory. Many in Atlanta’s front office think the Cuban sensation could help restore the team.
Though Moncada might seem out of the team’s range, the Baltimore Orioles are similarly eager. With a trip to this year’s ALCS, they flirted with the pennant and may want someone like Moncada on their budding crew, even at the expense of spending pools.
“I don’t think teams are going to pay a lot of attention to those restrictions,” an MLB scouting director, requesting anonymity, told MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo last month. “If I were a GM, even if I can’t sign another international player for two years, if I have the money, I wouldn’t let Moncada go.’’
But in the face of teams longing to sign Moncada, paperwork has turned his arrival into this offseason’s biggest waiting game. While the MLB Players Association has cleared his free agent status, the Cuban immigrant has yet to get clearance from the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control. Without the green light, teams cannot make transactions with Cuban nationals.
The timeline of Moncada’s major-league debut relies on how quickly the American government can deem the player an “unblocked national,” or someone “who [has] taken up permanent residence outside of Cuba.” The process of getting treasury clearance can take up to six months, especially given the odd circumstances of the athlete’s departure from the country. In the meantime, teams wishing to acquire the infielder can only wait until the Washington backlog eases.
As far as departures from Cuba go, Moncada currently remains the exception. Hopes of joining an MLB club still ignite perilous journeys and human-trafficking rings. Moncada’s success in the major leagues, and his willingness to keep promoting the game back home, may dictate future policy between the island nation and the professional baseball mecca.
No matter the outcome or the intricacies of each deal, there will still be Cuban players who, like Moncada and Tomas, crave the MLB spotlight. Like his countrymen before him, 15-year-old Ernesto Medina sees the sport in his future. Playing ball on a Havana diamond, he told the Associated Press in September, “To start, I’m dreaming of playing for Industriales, the greatest Cuban baseball team in my opinion, and afterward of course I’d like to play in the major leagues.”
(This article first appeared on The Sports Post. Click here to read the original post.)
Why now is Cuba lifting its edict for this talent? The answer remains a mystery and will likely unfold once Moncada comes stateside.
Moncada is more than a political symbol. The 19-year-old, like Tomas, has what scouts want: a disciplined and robust bat proven to deliver. In two seasons with Cienfuegos in Serie Nacional, he batted .277 with a .388 on-base percentage, also playing in the league’s All-Star games and home run derbies. Slapping line drives, in particular, has been his specialty. And having gone 13-for-18 in stolen bases during his rookie season, the free agent’s running game warrants note, too.
The teenager advertised his skills Nov. 12 at a facility in Guatemala. With over 60 scouts from almost every MLB team in attendance, Moncada ran a 60-yard dash in under seven seconds. He took batting practice, showing raw power from both sides of the plate. In the field, he picked up ground balls and threw them to first base on target. Most scouts in attendance agreed that he is well rounded, comparing him to fellow Cubans like Puig and Jorge Soler.
Moncada’s defensive versatility may help attract a wider slew of teams. He has a strong enough arm for second or third base, while in center field his speed flourishes. Depending on which MLB scout one asks, the answer for where to put Moncada differs. With each team holding different plans for the prospect, high demand is a given.
Moncada may become the highest-paid amateur player in baseball history. Yahoo Sports columnist Jeff Passan recently spoke to four MLB club executives, each of whom forecast a $30 million to $40 million deal for the prospect. Because Moncada is under 23 and has not played professionally for five years, any team that wants him must spend its share of the league’s international bonus pool. They would also have to pay a 100 percent tax on the overages and limit prospect bonuses to $300,000 a season for two years. In all, the 19-year-old could cost a team nearly $80 million, a figure for only the richest or most ambitious organizations.
This offseason, the New York Yankees have equal parts wealth and zeal. The latter is especially pronounced, with the team missing the playoffs for a second straight year. Also, given the retirement of shortstop Derek Jeter and the uncertain reliability of third baseman Alex Rodriguez, their infield is short-staffed. Regarding budgets, the Yankees have already eclipsed their spending limit this offseason, so fiscally speaking, they have less to lose than other teams. Money, after all, has rarely been an issue for this club, which spent $175 million on Japanese pitcher Masahiro Tanaka last winter.
Unlike the defectors before him, Moncada left the island with government permission. The agreement is the first of its kind, a mutual bridge between the communist state and the baseball world.
The Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Angels, and Tampa Bay Rays have also surpassed this year’s amateur spending limit. With growing revenues, money is less of an issue for these teams as well.
The Atlanta Braves may also compete for Moncada. The team has built an executive game plan heavy on scouts, a half dozen of whom have seen the prospect play. The Braves’ budget is thin, but after 14 years without a NLCS berth, they are starving for victory. Many in Atlanta’s front office think the Cuban sensation could help restore the team.
Though Moncada might seem out of the team’s range, the Baltimore Orioles are similarly eager. With a trip to this year’s ALCS, they flirted with the pennant and may want someone like Moncada on their budding crew, even at the expense of spending pools.
“I don’t think teams are going to pay a lot of attention to those restrictions,” an MLB scouting director, requesting anonymity, told MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo last month. “If I were a GM, even if I can’t sign another international player for two years, if I have the money, I wouldn’t let Moncada go.’’
But in the face of teams longing to sign Moncada, paperwork has turned his arrival into this offseason’s biggest waiting game. While the MLB Players Association has cleared his free agent status, the Cuban immigrant has yet to get clearance from the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control. Without the green light, teams cannot make transactions with Cuban nationals.
The timeline of Moncada’s major-league debut relies on how quickly the American government can deem the player an “unblocked national,” or someone “who [has] taken up permanent residence outside of Cuba.” The process of getting treasury clearance can take up to six months, especially given the odd circumstances of the athlete’s departure from the country. In the meantime, teams wishing to acquire the infielder can only wait until the Washington backlog eases.
As far as departures from Cuba go, Moncada currently remains the exception. Hopes of joining an MLB club still ignite perilous journeys and human-trafficking rings. Moncada’s success in the major leagues, and his willingness to keep promoting the game back home, may dictate future policy between the island nation and the professional baseball mecca.
No matter the outcome or the intricacies of each deal, there will still be Cuban players who, like Moncada and Tomas, crave the MLB spotlight. Like his countrymen before him, 15-year-old Ernesto Medina sees the sport in his future. Playing ball on a Havana diamond, he told the Associated Press in September, “To start, I’m dreaming of playing for Industriales, the greatest Cuban baseball team in my opinion, and afterward of course I’d like to play in the major leagues.”
(This article first appeared on The Sports Post. Click here to read the original post.)