The Cuban Defectors Thread

[TruffleShuffle]

how can a guy who is 5'9" and weighs 200 lbs be a plus plus runner? that's like tim raines or kirby puckett when they got fat.

[davell]

how can a guy who is 5'9" and weighs 200 lbs be a plus plus runner? that's like tim raines or kirby puckett when they got fat.

 

Barry Sanders was 5'8, 200. I'd venture to say he'd have been thought of as a plus-plus runner.

[mul21]

how can a guy who is 5'9" and weighs 200 lbs be a plus plus runner? that's like tim raines or kirby puckett when they got fat.

 

Or like Emmitt Smith when he was rushing for 15,000 yards with large, fast men trying to tackle him all the time.

[Guest]

http://m.espn.go.com/general/blogs/blogpost?blogname=chicagocubs&id=26060&city=chicago&src=desktop&rand=ref~%7B%22ref%22%3A%22http%3A%2F%2Ft.co%2FTaI5gvUiDL%22%7D

 

Cuban outfielder Rusney Castillo will be holding a workout this Saturday in Miami and the Chicago Cubs will have a significant presence looking on, including some high-ranking officials, according to multiple sources with knowledge of the situation.

[SouthSideRyan]

http://m.espn.go.com/general/blogs/blogpost?blogname=chicagocubs&id=26060&city=chicago&src=desktop&rand=ref~%7B%22ref%22%3A%22http%3A%2F%2Ft.co%2FTaI5gvUiDL%22%7D

 

Cuban outfielder Rusney Castillo will be holding a workout this Saturday in Miami and the Chicago Cubs will have a significant presence looking on, including some high-ranking officials, according to multiple sources with knowledge of the situation.

 

http://www.spotsilvertrader.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/olymic-silver.png

[Guest]

@Ken_Rosenthal All but two clubs and approximately 100 baseball officials attended Rusney Castillo’s workout in Miami today.

[Guest]

Wonder which two teams didn't bother.

[davell]

http://www.baseballamerica.com/international/rusney-castillo-wows-miami-workout/

 

Details on his workout.

[wekim81]

Sounds decent. Thoughts on what it might take to sign him? I'd love to add him to Soler for the rest of the AAA season and go from there

[Clem Fandango]

Given his age I imagine he'll be looking for a Cespedes-like deal so he can cash in on a bigger paycheck before he starts to decline. Cubs could definitely use him. They were already in a position to ship off some prospects for bigger fish and not be hurt by it. Adding him to the fold softens the blow even more in the event it happens, but adding him also almost guarantees it happens. Putting him in the lineup means one of our guys likely gets moved. The question is who gets moved?

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Signing him or someone like him would make the HomeGrown Lineup 2015 more or less a reality.

[davell]

Signing him or someone like him would make the HomeGrown Lineup 2015 more or less a reality.

 

I'll be surprised if they don't attempt to use the all homegrown for a bit. At the first sign of a weak link or two though, I think they'll be dealt off before losing a ton of value.

[treebird]

Signing him or someone like him would make the HomeGrown Lineup 2015 more or less a reality.

 

I'll be surprised if they don't attempt to use the all homegrown for a bit. At the first sign of a weak link or two though, I think they'll be dealt off before losing a ton of value.

 

that seems like a good way to be sure we don't come close to maximizing value.

 

i'd much prefer that we have smart scouts who use the exclusive knowledge we have about these guys to pick out the likeliest busts and move them before they get exposed.

[davell]

1B and SS or 3B are set. C is passable and controllable for a while.

 

2B- Javy, Alcantara, Russell

3B- KB, Russell, Javy

SS- Russell, Javy(if Starlin is at 3B)

LF- Schwarber, Soler, KB, Javy, McKinney

CF- Alcantara, Almora

RF- KB, Soler

 

If 3 spots are filled currently and we add Castillo, conceivably it'd leave Javy, KB, Russell, Alcantara, Soler, Almora, Schwarber, and McKinney going after 4 spots.

 

I can see them moving guys early, but I think they'll try and find the right mix of this group as our longtime lineup.

[Gilby]

If Castillo is signed, my guess is they'd go with an OF of Soler, Castillo, Bryant and an infield of Russell, Castro, Baez, Rizzo when everyone is ready. Alcantara can fill in every position and be injury insurance for Soler. Almora, McKinney, and Schwarber aren't worth caring about as far as projecting into lineups yet.

[Guest]

A comical aspect of the workout was the way the “handlers” treated Castillo, toweling him off after every five swings, offering him water every few seconds and even using towels to fan him.

 

At one point, one of his handlers actually tied his shoes for him.

 

Castillo seemed to think of all of this was essential, changing shirts for every exercise and switching shoes, too. Apparently, his fielding shoes are not his hitting shoes.

[Guest]

Ben Badler says the Yankees, Red Sox and Phillies will have private workouts with Castillo. He mentioned the Cubs in a list of other potential suitors.

[A New Era]

I wish for one. Tomas or Castillo. God would we be stacked real good in 2015.

[Guest]

Rusney Castillo now also has a workout scheduled with the Mariners.

[Guest]

Sahadev Sharma ‏@sahadevsharma 2m

Talked to a longtime scout who got eyes on Castillo for first time Saturday, was really impressed by bat, especially opposite field power

 

Sahadev Sharma ‏@sahadevsharma 1m

And yes, it appears Cubs are interested in a private workout. Still nothing scheduled as of yet, but that doesn't mean it won't happen.

 

Sahadev Sharma ‏@sahadevsharma 1m

Scout said after seeing the bat that if speed, which he said is 70, played in game (in CF & base paths), then he could be a special player

[A New Era]

Sahadev Sharma ‏@sahadevsharma 1m

And yes, it appears Cubs are interested in a private workout. Still nothing scheduled as of yet, but that doesn't mean it won't happen.

 

Sahadev Sharma ‏@sahadevsharma 1m

Scout said after seeing the bat that if speed, which he said is 70, played in game (in CF & base paths), then he could be a special player

 

I like those 2 combined. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for this one. Would really love to land him, it would make 2015+ even more exciting.

[Guest]

@sahadevsharma: Hoyer confirms team sent five people to watch Castillo on Saturday, wouldn't comment any further than that

[snoodmonger]

http://www.baseballamerica.com/international/rusney-castillo-wows-miami-workout/

 

Details on his workout.

 

His handler defiantly yelling "What more do you want?!" to the assembled crowd after Castillo fielded a slow roller is one of the funniest things I've ever read.

[davell]

Would have been better if Castillo yelled "Are you not entertained?" and threw his bat at the scouts.

[Clem Fandango]

Would have been better if Castillo yelled "Are you not entertained?" and threw his bat at the scouts.

 

I'm cracking up at the mental image