http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/7475557/...mlb-free-agency

 

Gerardo Concepcion nears free agency

 

By Enrique Rojas

ESPNdeportesLosAngeles.com

 

Cuban left-handed pitcher Gerardo Concepcion is closer to being declared an MLB free agent after establishing residence in Mexico Tuesday, his agent said.

 

The agent, Jaime Torres, said that Concepcion is now a resident of Mexico and is training in the Dominican Republic. He said Concepcion may begin negotiating with major league teams soon.

 

The Chicago White Sox and Chicago Cubs are among several MLB teams reportedly interested in the left-hander.

 

Concepcion, 18, was rookie of the year in the 2010-11 Cuban Serie Nacional. He went 10-3 with a 3.36 ERA in 21 games (16 starts) with Industriales de la Habana, one of the most popular teams on the island.

 

Concepcion defected from Cuba during the World Port Tournament in Rotterdam, Netherlands in June 2011. That was the same tournament in which Aroldis Chapman defected in 2009, before signing a $30 million deal with the Cincinnati Reds.

 

Enrique Rojas is a reporter and columnist for ESPNdeportesLosAngeles.com and ESPN.com.

I heard he is more of soft-tosser...anyone know his pitch repertoire? It can't hurt to add pitching depth I guess

SIGN ALL THE CUBANS

SIGN ALL THE CUBANS

With the international signing salary cap starting this summer...this isn't the worst idea ever.

With the international signing salary cap starting this summer...this isn't the worst idea ever.

 

Despite the caps, I'm 100% serious. I want to open a Cuban pipeline.

 

I heard he is more of soft-tosser...anyone know his pitch repertoire? It can't hurt to add pitching depth I guess

 

That is what Phil Rogers had to say FWIW.

Despite the caps, I'm 100% serious. I want to open a Cuban pipeline.

The caps will make it d*** near impossible for any team to have a single "pipeline" over the next few years.

The caps will make it d*** near impossible for any team to have a single "pipeline" over the next few years.

 

But if we get precedence, I'd love that.

The caps will make it d*** near impossible for any team to have a single "pipeline" over the next few years.

 

What does the typical Cuban ballplayer get paid in Cuba?

What does the typical Cuban ballplayer get paid in Cuba?

Very little.

 

My reasoning there is...even if it's a big salary boost for those guys to sign with a US team, no US team could afford to sign 3-4 of them once the caps come in if 29 other teams also have the same cap to spend.

Despite the caps, I'm 100% serious. I want to open a Cuban pipeline.

 

Then we can import the woman & children!!!!!

Very little.

 

My reasoning there is...even if it's a big salary boost for those guys to sign with a US team, no US team could afford to sign 3-4 of them once the caps come in if 29 other teams also have the same cap to spend.

 

If the top players are going for eight figures, I think it might actually be easier to sign a bunch of players now, including the cap considerations. Not many teams have $30-$50 million to bid on multiple players.

Then we can import the woman & children!!!!!

 

And they don't count against the cap!

SIGN ALL THE CUBANS

 

No it's:

 

Contrate a todos los jugadores de béisbol de persona independiente cubanos

Despite the caps, I'm 100% serious. I want to open a Cuban pipeline.

I agree. Signing a guy like this might make it more likely other Cubans will be more interested in signing with the Sox in the future.

Does anyone on the Sox coaching staff speak Spanish fluently? I hear Coop does, but does anyone else?

 

This could be a concern.

Does anyone on the Sox coaching staff speak Spanish fluently? I hear Coop does, but does anyone else?

 

This could be a concern.

 

Not sure why. Having Ozzie as manager for so many years didn't seem to keep English-speakers from joining the roster.

Does anyone on the Sox coaching staff speak Spanish fluently? I hear Coop does, but does anyone else?

 

This could be a concern.

 

Well I am sure we can do what the Sox did last year and hire interpreters. The only issue is we won't have to hire certain family members who are BFFs with Cowley and tweet a lot.

 

 

What does the typical Cuban ballplayer get paid in Cuba?

 

 

Most players earn a 4 or 5 year degree in Physical Education. Whatever the government pays this profession, that what they get. If you are a plummer, you get a plummer salary. Obviosuly, it is very low and is not enough.

Yeah, I'm sticking with my theory that it's no longer that hard to defect from Cuba.

I'm also less intrigued by Cuban players since I heard that their league is akin to A or AA baseball in America.

Most players earn a 4 or 5 year degree in Physical Education. Whatever the government pays this profession, that what they get. If you are a plummer, you get a plummer salary. Obviosuly, it is very low and is not enough.

 

 

I am expanding on this. When I was back home, a primary doctor used to get 500 + pesos. If you were a specialists (Urology, etc), you would get about 600 +. There were other professions where people were getting 100 +. I think it is about the same now. I would say these guys got about 300-400 pesos plus any freebies (car, apartment, etc) they government gave you. You have to be a star like Yuliesky Gourriel. He has home Internet where most peolple do not even have a computer. Cuba has an Intranet for Cubans where they only see the inside network. Gourriel is probably the only one with Internet access. His dad was a great outfielder for team Cuba and has managed his son. I guess the government wants to reward them and prevent them from leaving.

 

Going back to the worthless pesos. In my time, a George Washington was worth 200 and 00 pesos. Now, the government manipulate the exchange rate. You can see it here.

 

http://www.bc.gov.cu/English/home.asp

 

 

What is that second currency called Convertible" Cuban Peso CUC ? Another great idea from these dummies who want to limit the dollar circulation.

 

Therefore, If I decide to make a trip back home and take my hard earned $5,000 US. The dummies want me to exchange this amount for CUC. I can keep my dollars but if I pay with that, I get a %20 penalty I believe.

 

Enough about this nonsense. I never been back myself so I do not have to deal with the dummies.

Cubano, great to see you back on the board!

 

 

 

I am expanding on this. When I was back home, a primary doctor used to get 500 + pesos. If you were a specialists (Urology, etc), you would get about 600 +. There were other professions where people were getting 100 +. I think it is about the same now. I would say these guys got about 300-400 pesos plus any freebies (car, apartment, etc) they government gave you. You have to be a star like Yuliesky Gourriel. He has home Internet where most peolple do not even have a computer. Cuba has an Intranet for Cubans where they only see the inside network. Gourriel is probably the only one with Internet access. His dad was a great outfielder for team Cuba and has managed his son. I guess the government wants to reward them and prevent them from leaving.

 

Going back to the worthless pesos. In my time, a George Washington was worth 200 and 00 pesos. Now, the government manipulate the exchange rate. You can see it here.

 

http://www.bc.gov.cu/English/home.asp

 

 

What is that second currency called Convertible" Cuban Peso CUC ? Another great idea from these dummies who want to limit the dollar circulation.

 

Therefore, If I decide to make a trip back home and take my hard earned $5,000 US. The dummies want me to exchange this amount for CUC. I can keep my dollars but if I pay with that, I get a %20 penalty I believe.

 

Enough about this nonsense. I never been back myself so I do not have to deal with the dummies.

Very interesting! I love reading stuff like this and learning about what it's like in other parts of the world. Keep it coming.

Cubano, great to see you back on the board!

 

 

I started reading the post and was like "cool."

 

Then saw that it was Cubano and was like "Holy s***! Cubano's back! "