Browns Offensive Line Dismantled Once Again, But Why?
November 7, 2011While We’re Waiting… ESPN’s Credibility, Lowe Provides Flexibility and Ozzie Newsome Bloodies His Coach
November 8, 2011
When the Indians failed to pick up the option on Grady Sizemore they created a hole in the outfield. They also created an opportunity to hopefully fill an outfield spot with a person who bats right-handed. As we all know, the Indians have been lacking in right-handed bats not named Shelley Duncan. With that in mind, the expected upcoming free agency of Cuban defector Yoenis Cespedes becomes intriguing.
Jeff Passan from Yahoo! has the details. Cespedes is projected to be a center fielder with very good power. He does trick catches behind his back fielding fly balls. His power to the opposite field is reportedly exceptionally good. On top of it all, the dude sounds like a serious character, playing with flair sometimes to the point of rude arrogance. Passan recalls a highlight in his since-removed promotional video where Cespedes watches a homer for a full eight seconds before rounding the bases. That is a perfect segue into some of the potential negatives.
Cespedes is reportedly 26 years-old. We know from El Duque Hernandez, Manny Ramirez and Julio Franco that claimed ages from some countries are more reliable than others. Cuba, in particular doesn’t appear to be a place where they take birth records very seriously. So, is Cespedes really 26 or is he 31? His agent is reportedly looking for a deal similar to what the Cincinnati Reds gave to Aroldis Chapman. That deal is in the neighborhood of $30 million over six years. That might not be a bad deal for a 26 year-old, but a 31 year-old? It gets somewhat worse. There is a chance that this prospect could end up being the subject of a bidding war as the Yankees are reportedly interested.
It wouldn’t be totally out of character for the Indians to engage in a foreign free agent. They have flirted with it in the past, most notably with the Kobayashi who doesn’t eat hot dogs for a living. That deal was in 2007 for as much as around $10 million over three years. This deal is obviously expected to be much bigger. Still, if the player is half as good as reported Cespedes could be a real steal for $5 million per season.
As we get to know Chris Antonetti’s style more, we’ll just have to see if this is the kind of thing that strikes his fancy. In the meantime… opposite field power…
14 Comments
They should pursue him if they’re willing to out-bid the Yankees. Otherwise, don’t waste his time in an attempt to show the fans they’re trying to make a deal of any kind. $5 million a year is laughable on the scale of reaches for the Indians (see Kerry Wood), so IF they could snatch him for that, why not? They’re already gonna save something like $9 million next season after declining Sizemore’s option.
Only really horrible thing I can see happening is this guy posing for 8-seconds after a dinger causing the pitcher to throw at whoever follows him in retaliation. That someone will undoubtedly be the Indians’ hottest and most potent offensive player at the moment, thus sending him to the 15-day DL and causing the Indians to drop anywhere from 7-10 games behind the current leader in the division.
Would doubt that Antonetti would offer serious money like that since they love their stat programs and Cuban numbers are not apples-to-apples. If he does a move like this after the Ubaldo deal we’ll know that Antonetti, unlike Shapiro, has a taste for the high risk/high reward move.
“trick catches behind his back” just what we need in a CF!!!
He sounds like the Cuban Kenny Lofton. I’d take that in a heartbeat.
Drop $30M+ on a guy who has never played in MLB? Yeah, I’m happy to say I don’t see it happening.
I think it would be a great pickup im not so sure the yankees would go that hard after him considering they have granderson and gardner already also they already exercised their option on swisher. So I think it makes a lot of sense for them to go after him. Plus he could be the missing piece or at least make us a lot closer to a world series.
The Dolans wouldn’t pay the boat driver let alone this guy, c’mon now.
i’d rather have BJ Upton
Here’s a link to the aforementioned promo video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kREZHmOR1bg
The only Cuban the Tribe should be pursuing this offseason is Mark Cuban.
Apparently someone in the Indians organization attended his workouts.
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ti-brown_hardball_cespedes_katz_workouts_yankees_110711
Sounds like an intriguing prospect, but with so many teams interested, someone will likely overpay. If the Yankees are genuinely interested then forget it. Theres no telling how much they might throw at him.
For Derek Lowe money? Yes!
I think that they’d rather trade for Torii Hunter and his contract or pursue Upton than try for this guy Cespedes.
Tribe definitely should be in on him, but obviously can’t go too crazy on an offer. Reds showed last year that a small market club can beat out the Yanks and others for a top international prize. Kid filled a HUGE, HUGE need not only for the ML club but the organization as a whole. Gotta do your homework, but that’s what the scouts are paid for.
My only concern with him (or should say biggest) is he may need time in AAA….and the Tribe really can’t afford to give big money to a AAA guy when they need to add 2 bats to the ML club this year on a limited budget.