FG on Fox: Will the Cuban Player Market Correct Soon?
The largest signing bonus ever awarded to a Cuban player was just handed to Yasmany Tomas by the Arizona Diamondbacks. There are serious doubts about his game. Is the market for Cuban players out of control?
In what could easily become a yearly tradition, the most recent Cuban signee has a showcase video on youtube — once again complete with jump cuts, slow mo, and a soundtrack (no Michael McDonald this time, though). Even as the video is edited to show Tomas at his best, the laymen’s eye might notice a ‘thick lower half,’ a long swing, and some iffy moves on defense.
While praising Tomas — by pointing out the scarcity of power and lauding Tomas’ raw ability in that department, and calling his swing short for a power hitter — FanGraphs’ Kiley McDaniel admitted that he owned a “riskier bat” than the Cuban immigrants that have been so successful in recent years.
Ben Badler of Baseball America mentioned that Tomas’ weight ballooned in Cuba last season, and then pointed out risk factors beyond the outfielder’s body type in an email. “He’s a high-risk player because of his pitch recognition and swing-and-miss tendencies, both in and out of the strike zone,” wrote Badler of Tomas.
The numbers tell the same story — Tomas is one of the riskiest big-money signings out of Cuba so far.
With a phone full of pictures of pitchers' fingers, strange beers, and his two toddler sons, Eno Sarris can be found at the ballpark or a brewery most days. Read him here, writing about the A's or Giants at The Athletic, or about beer at October. Follow him on Twitter @enosarris if you can handle the sandwiches and inanity.
Disappointing that you didn’t discuss either the question in your headline or the question at the end of the first paragraph.
Wut. I showed that the contracts are getting bigger and the talent level getting worse. Then I said that if the market corrects due to a bust (how am I supposed to say that’s going to happen definitively anyway, asked a few execs and they thought it would), that correction happens it’s probably going to be due math rather than a feeling that tide has turned. Don’t know what you were looking for. As long as wins are generally cheaper on that market, teams will be very interested.
I think he didn’t realize that the article here isn’t the whole article.
No mention of Yoan Moncada.
He represents one of the very best talents to come out of Cuba.In fact there is nothing whatsoever to offer as an excuse for not throwing down the massive winning bid other than a team just doesn’t want to pay for top talent.
Switch hitter, hits for power, plus arm, plus speed, can play SS, outstanding 2B, 3B and CF.
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@johnmiddleton
He’s on Twitter.
This thief and son of a thief called boycotters “disloyal” and had the audacity to tell us over his Twitter account that the Phillies five year run was equal to the Braves 13 year division dominance and we are being ungrateful for what we have been given.
This is our “hope” for the future?
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JOHN MIDDLETON is a LOOTER.
Highlight and Google: John Powers Middleton Felony Fraud
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