The latest Cuban prospect expected to hit the market just might be the most coveted young outfielder to leave the island in the last 12 months.
Outfielder Yasel Puig, 21, has defected from Cuba and is in the process of establishing residency in Mexico, the first step to becoming eligible for free agency, his agent Jaime Torres said.
A showcase for Major League scouts is tentatively scheduled for later this week in Mexico City.
“As of Monday morning, I submitted information to Major League Baseball and the Players Association that he has taken up residency in Mexico and will shortly establish legal permanent residency in Mexico,” Torres said. “We should have documentation of his legal permanent residency in Mexico soon and as soon as I have that, I will submit it to Major League Baseball and I hope and expect that he will be declared a free agent immediately.”
The 6-foot-3, 210-pound Puig is a known commodity in international circles. He played two seasons for Cienfuegos in the island’s top league, Cuban National Series (Serie Nacional), and was a member of the country’s national team that finished second in the 2011 World Port Tournament in The Nethelands.
“There has not been a player as proven and as young to come to the States from Cuba,” Torres said. “It’s one thing to come to the United States at 19 or 20 years old with a few at-bats or some experience on a national level but this guy has years of national experience under his belt.”
Repoz
Posted: June 19, 2012 at 09:26 AM |
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1. eddieot Posted: June 19, 2012 at 09:36 AM (#4160904)Edit: I recall reading that playing in the Mexican league (i.e., bonus pool restriction doesn't apply) could be a way to circumvent the international player rules. Perhaps that is why he is establishing residency in Mexico.
Probably that's how many grandchildren he has.
If Cespedes was "A New Hope", then I expect Puig will be signing with the Empire...
Exactly how many players, let alone just outfielders, have defected in the last 12 months? Am I just reading this wrong, or does this make it sound like there's a regular supply of outfielders coming in from Cuba?
Three, I think (Cespedes, Soler, and now Puig). But, I agree, it is a weird sort of hype.
Yeah, but the hype train was in overdrive for Cespedes. I think the point is that despite the hype of Cespedes and to a lesser extent Soler, Puig may be the one we should have had an eye on all the time. I didn't see it as hype for Puig so much as a knock on the hype given Cespedes.
Not before there's 12 articles written about the Blue Jays interest in making a competitive bid for Puig's services.
Also, MLBtraderumors had the Braves offering $30 Mil to Soler, the next highest offer except the Cubs was around $25 Mil. Has to make the Braves a serious contender for him, no?
If he signs on or after July 2.
If he signs before then, his bonus (like Soler's) has no restrictions.
Anyone know if it is likely if he paperwork can be rushed enough to make him signable by the end of this month?
I just lived in Mexico for four years. There's basically no chance that Puig can get residency papers between now and late June, in time to sign before July 2, without some type of fraud being involved. Otherwise, guys like Soler and Cespedes (or Gerardo Concepcion, Jaime Torres' last Cuban client) would have sought Mexican papers rather than wait six or eight months in the D.R.
I imagine the people at MLB are observing this effort with bemusement. I'll be very surprised if Puig is cleared before July 2 rather than becoming the first Cuban casualty of the new rules.
I wonder how that name is pronounced. Is it PWEEG?
It will be an interesting process indeed if he cannot make it before then. If he actually is somewhere in the Soler/Cespedes neighborhood of perceived value, then one team is going to throw virtually all of their international FA fund at him.
Correct.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Joseph_Puig
...he pronounces it "pweeg"
Baseball America: Chaos Ensues At Workout For Cuban Outfielder Yasiel Puig
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