The Cuban Defectors Thread

[Guest]

Another defector:

 

@johnmanuelba: Breaking news from @BenBadler Cuban SS Erisbel Arruebarruena has left the island. Think Iglesias, Hech w/glove http://t.co/DRELCdycvA

 

@BenBadler: I saw Arruebarruena in person in March and July. Instincts, quick first step, hands, range, arm strength—just a joy to watch in the field.

 

We also have confirmation that RHP Raciel Iglesias defected.

[Guest]

26-year old CF Rusney Castillo, one of the top players in Cuba, defected: http://www.baseballamerica.com/international/defection-of-top-cuban-outfielder-rusney-castillo-could-shake-up-market/

 

It should take him a few months to become eligible to sign as a free agent.

 

Castillo is short but has a strong, athletic frame at 5-foot-9, 185 pounds. His best tool is his speed, as he’s an above-average runner and one of the better base stealers in Cuba. More of a doubles hitter than a big home run threat, Castillo puts a charge into the ball with a line-drive righthanded swing, though he can get long to the ball at times and some scouts think he’s prone to chasing pitches off the plate. Primarily a center fielder in Cuba, Castillo has also played some second and third base, so his versatility could be a draw for some teams. He’s an aggressive, high-energy player, though some teams see him as a fourth outfielder.

 

When Yoenis Cespedes was in Cuba, Cespedes was the star center fielder on the Cuban national team, with Leonys Martin the up-and-comer. With Cespedes and Martin gone, Castillo stepped in as Cuba’s national team center fielder at the World Cup in October 2011 in Panama. Castillo was a standout at the tournament, hitting .512/.524/.854 in 10 games, going 21-for-41 with two home runs, two triples, four doubles, one walk and two strikeouts. He made the tournament’s all-star team after leading the World Cup in batting average and slugging while ranking fourth in on-base percentage.

[KingCubsFan]

Maybe a RH part of a CF platoon? Nothing wrong with a 26 year old 4th outfielder that can play all 3 positions, even if he can't become a starter.

[Guest]

26-year old CF Rusney Castillo, one of the top players in Cuba, defected: http://www.baseballamerica.com/international/defection-of-top-cuban-outfielder-rusney-castillo-could-shake-up-market/

 

It should take him a few months to become eligible to sign as a free agent.

 

Castillo is short but has a strong, athletic frame at 5-foot-9, 185 pounds. His best tool is his speed, as he’s an above-average runner and one of the better base stealers in Cuba. More of a doubles hitter than a big home run threat, Castillo puts a charge into the ball with a line-drive righthanded swing, though he can get long to the ball at times and some scouts think he’s prone to chasing pitches off the plate. Primarily a center fielder in Cuba, Castillo has also played some second and third base, so his versatility could be a draw for some teams. He’s an aggressive, high-energy player, though some teams see him as a fourth outfielder.

 

When Yoenis Cespedes was in Cuba, Cespedes was the star center fielder on the Cuban national team, with Leonys Martin the up-and-comer. With Cespedes and Martin gone, Castillo stepped in as Cuba’s national team center fielder at the World Cup in October 2011 in Panama. Castillo was a standout at the tournament, hitting .512/.524/.854 in 10 games, going 21-for-41 with two home runs, two triples, four doubles, one walk and two strikeouts. He made the tournament’s all-star team after leading the World Cup in batting average and slugging while ranking fourth in on-base percentage.

 

Castillo did a private workout for the Dodgers in the Dominican. Ned Colletti was on hand.

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/international/dodgers-gm-attends-private-workout-for-cuban-outfielder-rusney-castillo/

[Clem Fandango]

Castillo did a private workout for the Dodgers in the Dominican. Ned Colletti was on hand.

 

http://i.imgur.com/H4wCffj.jpg

[Guest]

Hahahahahaha

[Guest]

that came together nicely

[Guest]

@Enrique_Rojas1: http://t.co/Uyb6SwhEpM source: #Dodgers close to sign cuban SS Erisbel Arruebarruena http://t.co/9u1QZ2bIAz

Elite defensive SS, questionable bat.

[Guest]

@Enrique_Rojas1: http://t.co/Uyb6SwhEpM source: #Dodgers close to sign cuban SS Erisbel Arruebarruena http://t.co/9u1QZ2bIAz

Elite defensive SS, questionable bat.

 

It's the Dodgers so I'm pretty sure he's going to come out running like a thoroughbred horse, making spectacular plays left and right, hitting a bunch of home runs, and doing bat flips on triples.

 

Seriously, though, remember when the initial reports on Puig were that his tools weren't very impressive and all that [expletive]? WTF

[Clem Fandango]

The reports also said Puig was really out of shape as well, didn't they?

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

The reports also said Puig was really out of shape as well, didn't they?

 

The reports made it seem like Puig was Kenny Powers.

[Clem Fandango]

Yeah, I don't recall there being a lot of people impressed with him, which is why when the Dodgers gave him the money they did everyone laughed and laughed, myself included, because it seemed like a knee-jerk reaction to guys like Soler and Cespedes.

[Guest]

Yeah, I don't recall there being a lot of people impressed with him, which is why when the Dodgers gave him the money they did everyone laughed and laughed, myself included, because it seemed like a knee-jerk reaction to guys like Soler and Cespedes.

 

Which is extra crazy because in the games I've seen him play, he's as physically impressive as any player I've seen (especially in recent post-steroid era history).

[Clem Fandango]

I know. When I saw him for the first time in the majors I thought to myself "I thought this dude was supposed to be fat". I have to assume with that many reports they had to be true, but he obviously busted his ass to get in shape. Kudos to him, but based on the reports it seemed like it was a wise bet to not buy into him since it seemed like he was piggybacking off of Soler's and Cespedes' hype machine

[Guest]

Alfredo Despaigne, Cuba's other bigtime hitter, had been loaned out to a team in Mexico recently. Said he was offered 50 mill plus by the Yanks, Pads(huh), and others, but turned it down out of loyalty to Castro.....

 

He's extremely close to the Castro regime, which is the only reason Cuba was willing to loan him to a team in Mexico.

 

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/international/why-is-cuban-outfielder-alfredo-despaigne-playing-in-mexico-using-a-dominican-passport/

[ScrubMD]

It sure would be swell to get him.

[sneakypower]

13 HRs and 9 BBs, and he's 5'8...impressive

[Guest]

13 HRs and 9 BBs, and he's 5'8...impressive

 

[A New Era]

13 HRs and 9 BBs, and he's 5'8...impressive

 

 

Based on my untrained eye, he looks like he has some pretty damn good bat speed. Is he a high K guy? Any way, I was an in on Abreu and I'm 100% on this guy. He actually plays a position at one of our biggest needs. It would be pretty sweet to add another legit bat especially for next year when you have one or both of Bryant and Baez coming up.

[davell]

Badler just had a Twitter exchange with Enrique Rojas and seems pretty convinced something is going to happen here.

 

If it does.....He's a [expletive] must get. Not only does he play a position of need, the Dodgers and Yankees don't have a real need, so they won't be bidding ungodly amounts for him. We saved money-this would be a perfect way to spend it.

[Gilby]

Badler just had a Twitter exchange with Enrique Rojas and seems pretty convinced something is going to happen here.

 

If it does.....He's a [expletive] must get. Not only does he play a position of need, the Dodgers and Yankees don't have a real need, so they won't be bidding ungodly amounts for him. We saved money-this would be a perfect way to spend it.

 

Pretty much. There would be no excuse for this one.

[KingCubsFan]

Badler just had a Twitter exchange with Enrique Rojas and seems pretty convinced something is going to happen here.

 

If it does.....He's a [expletive] must get. Not only does he play a position of need, the Dodgers and Yankees don't have a real need, so they won't be bidding ungodly amounts for him. We saved money-this would be a perfect way to spend it.

According to ESPN the DR passport is fake. http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/10927805/top-cuban-alfredo-despaigne-mexico-false-passport. So he's still going to need to establish residency somewhere.

[Guest]

Badler just had a Twitter exchange with Enrique Rojas and seems pretty convinced something is going to happen here.

 

If it does.....He's a [expletive] must get. Not only does he play a position of need, the Dodgers and Yankees don't have a real need, so they won't be bidding ungodly amounts for him. We saved money-this would be a perfect way to spend it.

According to ESPN the DR passport is fake. http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/10927805/top-cuban-alfredo-despaigne-mexico-false-passport. So he's still going to need to establish residency somewhere.

 

Maybe I'm missing something obvious about the rules for political refugees, but at 28 (since he wouldn't be subject to the draft), can't he pretty much just come straight here?

[KingCubsFan]

Badler just had a Twitter exchange with Enrique Rojas and seems pretty convinced something is going to happen here.

 

If it does.....He's a [expletive] must get. Not only does he play a position of need, the Dodgers and Yankees don't have a real need, so they won't be bidding ungodly amounts for him. We saved money-this would be a perfect way to spend it.

According to ESPN the DR passport is fake. http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/10927805/top-cuban-alfredo-despaigne-mexico-false-passport. So he's still going to need to establish residency somewhere.

 

Maybe I'm missing something obvious about the rules for political refugees, but at 28 (since he wouldn't be subject to the draft), can't he pretty much just come straight here?

My understanding has been that, because of OFAC, they need to establish official residency in a different country before trying to come to the US.

[davell]

Badler just had a Twitter exchange with Enrique Rojas and seems pretty convinced something is going to happen here.

 

If it does.....He's a [expletive] must get. Not only does he play a position of need, the Dodgers and Yankees don't have a real need, so they won't be bidding ungodly amounts for him. We saved money-this would be a perfect way to spend it.

According to ESPN the DR passport is fake. http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/10927805/top-cuban-alfredo-despaigne-mexico-false-passport. So he's still going to need to establish residency somewhere.

 

Maybe I'm missing something obvious about the rules for political refugees, but at 28 (since he wouldn't be subject to the draft), can't he pretty much just come straight here?

 

He doesn't have to play in the Mexican League, but the whole OFAC blocking stuff isn't something I'm very familiar with. I do know they have to establish residence SOMEWHERE, other than the US. And that takes 6 months at a minimum, it seems like. Depending largely on how familiar their representation is with the process.