RADIO
An International Flair
Welcome to the third installment of my fantasy draft sleeper series, hilariously known as R.O.I.D.S. In the last two installments we looked at deep sleepers with unique opportunities and rankings anomalies. Today, we are focusing on the letter "I" for International prospects.
Over the last several years, Cuban defectors Jose Abreu, Yasiel Puig, Yoenis Cespedes and Jose Fernandez have risen from obscurity to become MLB All Stars. Their success has created what could essentially be called a Cuban gold rush.
MLB clubs are now racing to sign the next Cuban phenom, but can we expect this track record of success to continue?
The Cuban Flood Continues
Prospects Jorge Soler, Yasmany Tomas, and Rusney Castillo have two things in common. They are Cuban and with expectations high, they are unlikely live up to the hype.
The Boston Red Sox just paid a record breaking $72.5 million for 27-year-old Castillo. He is a line drive hitter with plus raw power and plus speed with very little professional experience.
Fresh off a Winter League stint, he batted .405 in 10 games. Remember in 2014, Castillo briefly showcased his potential in 40 plate appearances batting .333/.400/.528 with two home runs, six runs, and three steals. Castillo will be the everyday CF and will see plenty of opportunity in one of baseball’s best lineups. Fangraphs projects him to hit .280/.340/.460 with 20 HR.
Castillo has experience batting leadoff in Cuba and there is potential that he could take over as Boston’s leadoff hitter if Mookie Betts struggles. Scouts say they are impressed with his plate discipline and with a new “training regimen,” he reportedly put on 20 pounds of muscle. Check him here:
Like Boston, the Arizona Diamondbacks made a splash this offseason with their acquisition of Cuban born, Tomas. Scouting reports tout his 70 grade power with power to all fields. Scouts do not project him to have the immediate impact of a Abreu, but at only 24, he has plenty of keeper league potential.
Please don't get too excited. He doesn’t have the chiseled physique of a Puig or Castillo and he is only an average defender. Scouts are concerned about his swing and miss tendencies, plate discipline and his pitch recognition. But, aside from the weight component, the same was said regarding Abreu.
Castillo and Tomas both have tremendous upside but also come with heaping pile of risk. I would welcome either on my roster, but I am unlikely to reach for them. If I get the choice of any Cuban prospect, I'm taking the 210-pound, 19 year old, switch-hitting infielder, Yoan Moncada.
During the 2013-14 season, Moncada hit .273/.365/.406 for the Cienfuegos Elephantes Cuban National Team. He is a five tool player who has dominated every level of Cuba.
According to Ben Badler of Baseball America, the Yankees, Red Sox, Dodgers and Braves would be the likely real teams to sign him.
Scouts compare him to Puig with the ability to play most defensive positions. Moncada has the speed and power to change the fortunes of a franchise but still has to clear plenty of hurdles to become a free agent . There is no timetable for his arrival so he might not be draftable.
In Summary
Buyer beware, there is no guarantee that these Cuban prospects ever become All Stars. Cubans have had remarkable success over the past several seasons, but remember, for every Cespedes, there is always a Bill Ortega.
Next week, we delve into Part 4 of my fantasy sleeper series, the “D” in R.O.I.D.S. I will present some elite fantasy baseball draft strategies and exploring yet another incredibly stupid sleeper fantasy pick.
As a bonus, to the first person who can correctly guess my favorite baseball player from the 1990 Kansas City Royals, I will begrudgingly send my favorite, not new Bo Jackson t-shirt autographed by me and my Dad.
