Yoenis Cespedes - Cuban CF

[turok]

Something about this guy just screams OVERPAY to me. Maybe not as much in the form of his defense, but that his offensive stats aren't gonna be "all that" (at least not right "off the bat"), and he and his agent obviously gonna be attempting, if not expecting or demanding to sign an insane double-digit MM contract offer, likely averaging in the mid to high teens for far too many years.

Would be better if Yoenis would be more reasonable, knowing that not only does he not have any ML experience, he also does not have any in the minors, either, and he would agreeably sign for "at most" two or three seasons initially.

But nope, Cespedes acts as if he is an absolute lock for...say a '11 VMart-like .330/.420/.475 slashline in just his rookie season alone, along with Grandy's '07 season of double-digits in doubles, triples, walks, homers and SBs...hmmm...don't really think so, although I do think that he could play stellar defense in the OF and have excellent speed on the basepaths, but he probably would get CS and picked off more often than usual, until he gains more experience in the majors.


I could be all wrong, but this loooong delay in Cespedes finally becoming a legit MLB FA and his agent being able to begin discussions and negotiations with interested teams, seems to provide the perfect cover for the Tigers to use, if/when they fail to make any other moves during this off-season, shrugging them off with the excuse of not knowing what the other teams limits were, as far as potential salary and the length of Cespedes' contract.

 

[kalinecountry]

Thought I had added this from the team notes this afternoon,

http://claydavenport.com/?p=97
Cuban Statistics and Yoennis Cespedes. Must read.
from claydavenport

Gives an idea of what to expect in offensive numbers from Cespedes and also comparable players.

 

[kalinecountry]

and as if we didn't know with Miami's Cuban/Hispanic population;
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/01/marlins-to-make-aggressive-run-for-cespedes.html
Miami Marlins to make an aggressive run for Cespedes.
from mlbtraderumors

 

[turok]

KalineCountry[/color]]Thought I had added this from the team notes this afternoon,

http://claydavenport.com/?p=97
Cuban Statistics and Yoennis Cespedes. Must read.
from claydavenport

Gives an idea of what to expect in offensive numbers from Cespedes and also comparable players.

I agree with Davenport, as far as DD covertly obtaining a "black-ops" extraction team to go into Cuba and removing Jose Abreu, IF he plays 2B or 3B?



Couldn't find any info on Cuban pitching, as they all aren't likely to be the generational offspring of Luis Tiant. Nor could I find any info out on their fielding positions or stats, unless they are located elsewhere on his site, otherwise it is all offensive stats only?

 

[kalinecountry]

KalineCountry[/color]]Thought I had added this from the team notes this afternoon,

http://claydavenport.com/?p=97
Cuban Statistics and Yoennis Cespedes. Must read.
from claydavenport

Gives an idea of what to expect in offensive numbers from Cespedes and also comparable players.

I agree with Davenport, as far as DD covertly obtaining a "black-ops" extraction team to go into Cuba and removing Jose Abreu, IF he plays 2B or 3B?



Couldn't find any info on Cuban pitching, as they all aren't likely to be the generational offspring of Luis Tiant. Nor could I find any info out on their fielding positions or stats, unless they are located elsewhere on his site, otherwise it is all offensive stats only?

black ops extraction team, lol.
I just happened on that link and story in my baseball site surfing. I did see a poster at TigsTown had it too, said from baseball prospectus which has a pay wall for most stories.
It's probably impossible to get any stats like that from the Cuban League.
Those world teams and series is the only chance.

 

[kalinecountry]

http://www.lidom.com.do/zvideo_tv_tl4.htm
Cespedes is playing in this game in the DWL.

 

[turok]

KalineCountry[/color]]and as if we didn't know with Miami's Cuban/Hispanic population;
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/01/marlins-to-make-aggressive-run-for-cespedes.html
Miami Marlins to make an aggressive run for Cespedes.
from mlbtraderumors

The Marlins will likely wind up signing him, IMO, as it makes too much sense, given the sizable Cuban population in the Miami area, Yoennis whom they obviously hope attracts them in droves to their new ballpark.

I'm okay with that, b/c I would prefer that the Tigers will find the means to obtain the right pieces to plug in @ 2B, 3B, leadoff, and rotation, but it certainly appears that in order to fix one problem area of need, they will inevitably create another, esp. IF it involves trades, whether in the short-term or perhaps long-term (or even both..oh well)

If I was Ilitch, I would play hardball with the Marlins, getting in touch with their brass through DD and threatening to go one million higher for each season Cespedes wants, that the Marlins plan to offer his agent during negotiations, but also claiming that the Tigers would back off...but only IF the Marlins agree to trade Hanley Ramirez to them for what would be a "reasonable" package of players...

 

[mjsb2]

Something about this guy just screams OVERPAY to me. Maybe not as much in the form of his defense, but that his offensive stats aren't gonna be "all that" (at least not right "off the bat"), and he and his agent obviously gonna be attempting, if not expecting or demanding to sign an insane double-digit MM contract offer, likely averaging in the mid to high teens for far too many years.

Would be better if Yoenis would be more reasonable, knowing that not only does he not have any ML experience, he also does not have any in the minors, either, and he would agreeably sign for "at most" two or three seasons initially.

But nope, Cespedes acts as if he is an absolute lock for...say a '11 VMart-like .330/.420/.475 slashline in just his rookie season alone, along with Grandy's '07 season of double-digits in doubles, triples, walks, homers and SBs...hmmm...don't really think so, although I do think that he could play stellar defense in the OF and have excellent speed on the basepaths, but he probably would get CS and picked off more often than usual, until he gains more experience in the majors.


I could be all wrong, but this loooong delay in Cespedes finally becoming a legit MLB FA and his agent being able to begin discussions and negotiations with interested teams, seems to provide the perfect cover for the Tigers to use, if/when they fail to make any other moves during this off-season, shrugging them off with the excuse of not knowing what the other teams limits were, as far as potential salary and the length of Cespedes' contract.

1. Cespedes will sign for more like 8 mill per year than the mid to high teens, in fact nobody has speculated he'll earn in the mid to high teens.

2. Cespedes should of course try to sign for as much as he can, to suggest he do anything else is utterly ridiculous.

 

[turok]

Something about this guy just screams OVERPAY to me. Maybe not as much in the form of his defense, but that his offensive stats aren't gonna be "all that" (at least not right "off the bat"), and he and his agent obviously gonna be attempting, if not expecting or demanding to sign an insane double-digit MM contract offer, likely averaging in the mid to high teens for far too many years.

Would be better if Yoenis would be more reasonable, knowing that not only does he not have any ML experience, he also does not have any in the minors, either, and he would agreeably sign for "at most" two or three seasons initially.

But nope, Cespedes acts as if he is an absolute lock for...say a '11 VMart-like .330/.420/.475 slashline in just his rookie season alone, along with Grandy's '07 season of double-digits in doubles, triples, walks, homers and SBs...hmmm...don't really think so, although I do think that he could play stellar defense in the OF and have excellent speed on the basepaths, but he probably would get CS and picked off more often than usual, until he gains more experience in the majors.


I could be all wrong, but this loooong delay in Cespedes finally becoming a legit MLB FA and his agent being able to begin discussions and negotiations with interested teams, seems to provide the perfect cover for the Tigers to use, if/when they fail to make any other moves during this off-season, shrugging them off with the excuse of not knowing what the other teams limits were, as far as potential salary and the length of Cespedes' contract.

1. Cespedes will sign for more like 8 mill per year than the mid to high teens, in fact nobody has speculated he'll earn in the mid to high teens.

2. Cespedes should of course try to sign for as much as he can, to suggest he do anything else is utterly ridiculous.

1) I was just having some fun by wildly over-exaggerating his perceived value.

2) I had better start adding a

smilie apparently.

 

[kalinecountry]

Cespedes was 0 for 3 with all strikeouts in this game on breaking balls, then got hbp.
From that link by clay davenport, he isn't expected to have a high or good obp, which means he probably isn't any improvement at the top of the order leading off or batting second. That puts the Tigers right back where they were last year.
idk how this is all going to play out, but get the feeling we will be frustrated again with low obp at the top 1/2/3 spots.

 

[turok]

After scanning the www for a bit more "legit" Cespedes' contract estimations, MLBTR had posted nearly two months ago, that representatives for Yoennis claimed to already have had an offer of $10MM per year upfront, and obviously long before any other club had begun to enter the bidding war and salary/contract negotiations asof yet.

So IF that is true, and teams like the Nationals, who have already vividly demonstrated just last year, with that 8 year $156 MM contract Werth signed, that they are willing to pay out crazy money to a guy who then managed to bat all of .232/.330/.389 for the entire '11 season..then what will they be willing to counter-offer for Cespedes, who also just happens to play a position of need, and IF the negotiating floor is already based @ $10 MM per annum, and maybe ~ a half-dozen teams that might be "seriously & credibly" involved...??

Yoenis Cespedes

 

[kalinecountry]

http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/prospects/2012/01/yoenis-cespedes-struggles-in-winter-ball-debut/
Yoenis Cespedes Struggles In Winter Ball Debut.
from Baseball America

 

[Mitchrapp]

Just get your papers already. Taking a long enough freakin" time.

 

[kalinecountry]

http://www.mlive.com/tigers/index.ssf/2012/01/cuban_star_yoenis_cespedes_hit.html
Cuban star Yoenis Cespedes hitless in winter ball debut, possibly jeopardizing elite status.
from Mlive

Cespedes' agent, Adam Katz, recommended winter ball for his client after recent reports suggested Cespedes

 

[turok]

Yoennis reportedly hadn't played in a real game since last April in Cuba's version of the MLB postseason and championship series, so I don't see why going hitless and 3 Ks in his first game would be enough to "jeopardize" his "elite" status...just yet.

But as I posted up-thread, I really don't think that Cespedes is anywhere near being elite as compared to his eventual "peers" in MLB who have been proven to be elite. He is presently at best the equivalent of an elite blue-chip prospect in low A ball in the minors, until/if he can prove otherwise, while playing winter ball in the DR for at least a month, or much better still, after he is signed and plays in ST games during the month of March...JMO.

 

[kalinecountry]

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php....talents-in-mlb/
Can Yoenis Cespedes showcase his talents in mlb?
from fangraphs

 

[buddyboy2121]

So far in winter league Cespedes is 0-6 with 4 Ks. Can't hit an offspeed pitch, lets hope the Nationals get stupid with it

 

[turok]

So far in winter league Cespedes is 0-6 with 4 Ks. Can't hit an offspeed pitch, lets hope the Nationals get stupid with it

The Nationals would have to get completely crazy with it, especially after blowing such a huge wad last year on the currently quite ironically-named "Werth", considering how well he had performed at the plate last season.

 

[buddyboy2121]

Hopefully Cespedes' performance in the last week have scared off some of the other contenders for him and we can low ball him. But i kinda hope he goes elsewhere because he can't hit a breaking ball and we could just sign Wily Mo Pena if we wanted a player with incredibly power that struggles with contact.

 

[Mitchrapp]

Should have stayed away from WL ball and took his 4 years 32m.