Outside the Box: Carribean Dreams

Coming to a ballpark near you:

Rusney Castillo
Age: 27
Years Pro: 6

Represented by J-Z's ROC, Castillo appeared at his showcase 20 pounds stronger and put on a powerball show that may have upped his price-tag to Puig money ($40+Million or so).  A smaller guy at only 5'9, Castillo is not projected to have a super-star upside. Initial scouting reports tout a quick, line-drive swing with good loft, a good glove and plus plus speed.   MVP of the IBAF World Cup games in Panama, Castillo was considered a top-ten player on the island (after Cespeddes, Puig, and Jose Abreu left) and has drawn comparisons to Jacoby Ellsbury and Andrew McCutchen.

Is Castillo the next big thing or big flop?

Having already navigated his way through the murky legal maze of applying for MLB free agency when you're from Cuba (you have to establish residence in a second country and then be approved by MLB as well as Government to be eligible), Castillo is available right now and might be playing in September.

Go get 'em, Reuben!

Slugger Tomas may be too expensive

Yasmani Tomas
Age: 23
Years Pro: 5

 6'1, 230 pounds of svelte muscle, Tomas has an elegance to his swing that may command a commitment of 40+  Million.

Maybe not.

Tomas' Cuban league stats are only slightly above average, and at the most recent incarnation of the WBC, Tomas looked over-matched at times by pitchers with plus heat.

Scouts agree on Tomas's power potential but disagree on his approach and contact ability.  Some say he will start his career in High A while others argue a month in triple A and Tomas will be major league ready.

Whatever the case, Tomas defected in late June, so he still has to establish residency and be cleared by the MLB before he can even sign.  

The next Cuban Legend

Yoan Moncada
Years Pro: 2
Age: 19
A husky six foot one, two hundred pound switch hitting infielder, Moncada is the youngest player of the group at just 19.  This is the guy to sign (if Amaro signs any of them) Possibly a five tool prodigy who in high school and the Cuban League played all over the diamond, Moncada absolutely destroyed his competition in the 16U and 18U leagues.  Not a whole lot of video or Cuban League stats to look over, but the anecdotal comparisons and reports vary from flowery to jubilant.

Tantalizing a prospect as they come, Moncada's departure from the island is a little murky.  The story posted is that Moncada did not defect, but was granted passage by a Cuban government that seems to have shifted priorities.

That's the story anyhow.

95+ fastball

Jorge Despaigne (Wilson)
Age: 23
Years Pro: 5
Not a whole lot of information about this long, lanky 23 year old, Despaigne left the country sometime in June, so like Tomas, the Phillies (and the rest of the league) will have plenty of time to put together a solid scouting report.  When Despaigne left, he was considered one of the top young pitchers on the island, his fastball hovering in the mid 90's, but a weird mechanical issue (can't repeat delivery) will most likely lower his stock (and pricetag).



TRIED to defect once already:

3 time Cuban League MVP

Alfredo Despaigne
Age: 28
Years Pro: 10
A bonafide monster in his prime (only 28 years old) Despaigne is currently playing for the Chiba Lottes after receiving a lifetime ban from the Mexican League for obtaining illegal documents.  As this is the first year of a sort of loan agreement between the government of Cuba and Japanese club teams, it should be interesting to see what Despaigne does.

I have a feeling that after having destroyed both the Mexican League (.346/.407/.603) and the Nippon League (7 HR, 21 RBI in 22 games), Despaigne may still want to play in the Major Leagues at the end of the year.

The power potential could be an difference maker for the Phils immediately, so fingers crossed everyone.

NOT gonna happen:


Yuliesky Gourriel
Age: 31
Years Pro: 12
For the last decade, this guy has been the best player in Cuba and we, here at the Phorum, have held out hope (our outstretched hands) that somehow, someway, this five tool wunderkid would find his way onto a major league roster (we of course imagined Gourriel playing third for the Phils).  We've got high in the sky apple pie hopes, we admit it.  But, imagine for a moment, dear Philadelphia fan, the best player in Cuba since Omar Linares playing gold glove D alongside Jimmy and Chase, makes you wonder how many more f*#@ing World Champion banners would be hanging in Ashburn Alley.

In our sweet sweet dreams, dearest Philadelphia fan.

#1 Big Meany signed with Yokohama Bay Stars

This past off-season, the Cuban government changed the rules. Gourriel is 30, but still a top player on the island.  We said to ourselves (yes, we talk to ourselves.  We are ONE to begin with.  DUH!), Gourriel could be a franchise saver (evil slightly hysterical laughter).  YES! we said (more laughter).  To rule the world we must have a legit bat and glove (FINALLY!) from the right side. Our heartbeats quickened and we laughed some more (we laughted alot more really.  Dark evil tortured laughter in front of the mirror) and then the BIG MEANIE signed with a Japanese team and Amaro rolled the team into Spring Training looking like what they look like and we canceled our MLB subscriptions in late May settling for listening to the lulling play by play of radio instead.  Listening and lapsing into our fantasy baseball teams and hoping the year would end quickly.

Thanks for ruining baseball.  Yuliesky.

Ya big Meanie.