Baseball America profiles a few Cuban defectors. With Jose around for the next two yrs, and his agent representing these guys as well, are there any names here that could help the sox for 2007?

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/majors/news/262124.html

Hell if they have thew talent sign them. W

I agree. Lets not forget Ozzie as our Latin American ambassador. I would love a couple of these guys on our team.

None of them seem ready to help the sox right away in 2007, though Linares and Herrera could get into the sox farm system. Linares and his 97-98 fastball could help if he got his control harnessed. Herrera would seem more advanced and possibly be ready by mid year for either the bullpen or rotation. Seeing how the sox could use another good SP prospect, Herrera might be worth signing.

 

It would seem that money alone wouldn't be the deciding factor in getting any of these guys. Having another Cuban on the team to help acclimate a guy to the states would also make sense.

I'm not thinking any of these guys will be Major League contributors. Usually, an agent would hype the hell out of a player if he really was all that jazz... this guy compares players to Yuniesky Betancourt.

Weren't there rumors that Yulieski Gourriel defected? What ever came of that? That kid is a stud. He mostly plays 3B and some 2B so he isn't a major need, but the kid is really talented.

Weren't there rumors that Yulieski Gourriel defected? What ever came of that? That kid is a stud. He mostly plays 3B and some 2B so he isn't a major need, but the kid is really talented.

Yes there were rumors, but last report he was still in Cuba, so I dunno.

 

What would be nice though is just to get a few of these guys in our minor league system just to try to rebuild it, if any of them do wind up showing some promise.

Yes there were rumors, but last report he was still in Cuba, so I dunno.

 

What would be nice though is just to get a few of these guys in our minor league system just to try to rebuild it, if any of them do wind up showing some promise.

 

those would probably wind up being pretty expensive minor leaguers.

those would probably wind up being pretty expensive minor leaguers.

All things considered...we have a packed house with a chance at 3 million tickets sold in the regular season this year...it's not like we're in the poorhouse.

All things considered...we have a packed house with a chance at 3 million tickets sold in the regular season this year...it's not like we're in the poorhouse.

 

THIS is true.

None of them seem ready to help the sox right away in 2007, though Linares and Herrera could get into the sox farm system. Linares and his 97-98 fastball could help if he got his control harnessed. Herrera would seem more advanced and possibly be ready by mid year for either the bullpen or rotation. Seeing how the sox could use another good SP prospect, Herrera might be worth signing.

Funny, Herrera sounds exactly like the type of pitching prospect our organization would persue.

Herrera, 25, has had success in Cuba, with a career 18-7, 3.72 record. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound righthander has shown command of a fringy fastball and what Torres termed an above-average curveball, and one scout liked him a lot. "He's got an above-average split-finger (fastball) and was 88-92," the scout said. "I could see his velocity jumping up to 90-94 once he gets into a system and he could very easily be a No. 4 starter in the big leagues."

 

Sign Linares. Although I'm certain 97-98 is sensationalized (likely sits 93-95), control can be developed. We have enough potential 4th/5th starters as it is.

I don't know which Sanchez they're talking about here:

 

Fonseca, 22, is a righthanded-hitting catcher; scouts rate his arm strength as modest, and they don't consider him a significant prospect. Sanchez, 22, is a rangy infielder at 6-foot-3, 205 pounds.

 

But he looks pretty appealing, considering we have practically nothing up the middle w/r/t MIF prospects. They don't mention how well he can hit, but being so young at 22 is a big plus.

 

Of course, I'm of the camp that they should be a top bidder for Guerriel if and when he defects.

Funny, Herrera sounds exactly like the type of pitching prospect our organization would persue.

Sign Linares. Although I'm certain 97-98 is sensationalized (likely sits 93-95), control can be developed. We have enough potential 4th/5th starters as it is.

 

I agree. Hell sign both if need be. We need to restock the farm and we need to get some guys with dominant potential in it. No more Lance Broadway's please.

I agree. Hell sign both if need be. We need to restock the farm and we need to get some guys with dominant potential in it. No more Lance Broadway's please.

Yeah, no more Pitcher of the week awards!