Cubanos

[Edgy MD]

Next two big prospects rolling out of Cuba:

1) Alfredo Despaigne


Bulky 27-year-old corner outfielder slugger with pure power

2) Finger-sign flashing switch-hitting outfielder Daniel Carbonell.


If there's anything Cuban that MLB teams love more than slugging corner outfielders, it's artificial market controls, so they have some boring, wonky limit as to what a team can spend on international free agents, but it doesn't apply to guys 23 and under, so the Yankees are expected to be all-in on 23-year-old Carbonell.

More here.

[Edgy MD]

Am I the only one who wonders if a lot of the Cuban defectors got juiced to the gills during their growth years, and then it's out of their system by the time they jump ship and debut in MLB?

A lot of monsters landing on our shores.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Absolutely they are juiced.

[Edgy MD]

I mean, no offense, Fidel. But I don't hold to the idea that Cuba is home to the greatest training facilities, technology, and personnel, just because.

[Edgy MD]

I'm also wondering if Alderson is somewhat self-restricted from making aggressive bids in pursuit of the recent crop of Cuban monsters. Perhaps because he has to keep alive his reputation as a guy who has helped clean up the game. Perhaps because he needs to keep the organization as far away from scandal as possible as long as they are indebted to the good graces of the league office. Perhaps because he needs to keep his nose clean in preparing to become the next commissioner.

Seeing Flores coming up a half inning after Puig was like watching a men-vs.-boys game.