1/7 Free agent shopping
The Cubs are believed to be one of the teams expressing interest in Cuban shortstop Aledmys Diaz. Diaz, who turns 23 on Tuesday, is a free agent, and a team can sign him without that money counting against the cap for international bonuses.
A right-handed hitting infielder, Diaz defected from the Cuban National team during a tournament in the Netherlands and has been training in Mexico City. A showcase for him was not expected until the end of January.
Cuban players who are at least 23 years old and have played at least three seasons in a Cuban professional league are not subject to the new international signing guidelines established by the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Diaz made his pro debut in 2007 for Villa Clara in Serie Nacional, the country’s top league.
– Carrie Muskat
mlblogsmuskat1
…..and we need another SS why???? trade material or……….
Maybe if we bring up another SS Castro will feel the pressure to commit less than 27 fielding errors and stop spacing out so often. He spends too much time pulling sunflower seeds out of his pocket both on the field and at bat. I really wish someone would tell him how unattractive it is to have sunflower seeds spewing down his chin all the time. Castro is a great player, I know, but he needs to address attention issues. He and Rizzo and Barney make up a fantastic defensive infield – that is for sure.
Okay Smardj–get over it and come on down to Mesa and have just as great a season as the old alma mater. The fields are in great shape and the sun is warm as I walked around Fitch today. Parking lot starting to fill up. No doubt about it–all star year ahead for you.
just because he is a SS now doesn’t mean he will be playing SS later or that we won’t need a SS later…. that way of thinking is why we are in this mess…… you get talent when you, how you can, and as often as you can……
Teams need to be very careful dealing with professional Cuban players I was around them for a couple years in a business arrangement. I found them to be good guys that loved their baseball . But there were constant age discrepancies and players were not team oriented at all. They had poor fundamentals and were truly un-coachable–playing in a flamboyant style much like they did when they were still youngsters. They would fake not understanding any English at all when this served them from making any changes in their playing defiencies. Winning was not usually part of their game plan. The Cubs may find it very frustrating and a waste of time and money to try to deal with part of the market..
i would say both cubans so far have been the total opposite…. also cubans are issued birth certificates so they shouldn’t have the discrepancies Dominicans do. I also don’t understand how you were in a business deal with Cubans being Cuba wants nothing to do with the US but that is a whole another topic
Petrey–glad to see you are back to your old self. I am not going to waste my time with you but I have seen our new guys in Mesa up close and personal and they are good. Birth certificates in Cuba is a laughing matter. Lastly I was involved with touring teams in the Southern USA and if you think there are not business deals with Cuba you are naive.
so when was the last cuban to have age issues? We all thought it would be Cespedes but everything checked out.
please don’t waste your time… wouldn’t want that to hold up any “business deals” with cuba now would we
Garcia was a big name prospect that had fake papers. It is an on-going problem. When you visit Miami throw out that juvenile talk of yours about no business deals with Cuba. Laughable.
Castro & Vogelbach to Detroit for Porcello & Castellanos & maybe Cubs also get 1st or 2nd round 2013 draft pick. Castellanos solidifies 3rd, Barney goes to SS for 1 year until Baez is ready. Since Cubs are more stocked with everyday players and not pitchers, Porcello fills a hole for future. Vogelbach is a stud but blocked by Rizzo. Could be future 1st (3-4 years away) baseman or DH for Detroit. As for Castro, well, Yes it’s will hurt. But Castellanos and Baez, Barney & Rizzo for our future. Plus Porcello & pick. I do it
that is a huge overpay………castro is worth about twice as much as that himself
Can’t trade draft picks and the Cubs have wouldn’t trade Castro for a middle of the rotation starter and a guy that hasn’t even made the big leagues yet.
Also Baez was having trouble hitting high A ball. Plus Theo said the prospects would have to get 500 AB in AAA before getting to the Majors. 2015 would be the absolute earliest. 2016 is more likely.
Aledmys Diaz, SS. Barney, 2B. Castro, 3b. Rizzo, 1B. What an infield THAT would be.
Sounds like a really great infield to me. But how soon can we get Diaz up to Wrigley? I sure had a scare yesterday! My 14 lb. cat (Shirley Purrl and a sweetie) decided to take a nap on my computer. In the process she got me off line, fouled everything up on the computer and I only got back on line a few minutes ago. Not being a computer whiz I had to call our local “GeeksAKnocking” for help. Moral to the story – make sure your cat has a VERY comfortable and warm pillow for naptime. LOL
Diaz would be a 3B for the Cubs…