The Big Fish
Oscar Colas seems to be the big fish in regards to available Cuban talent but there isn’t much clarity in regards to his situation at the moment. The 6’1″ 190 pounder has been referred to as the “Cuban Ohtani” because of his abilities as a two-way player. It’s unclear whether or not the White Sox have a preference as to Colas’s eventual position. Colas is still technically under contract in Japan and hasn’t established residency outside of the United States to date. He will likely have a showcase for teams once he does so and all indications are that he’ll sign a contract during the international period beginning on July 2nd, 2020. There is evidence that the White Sox are interested in signing Oscar Colas however.
Reported Addition
It was reported recently by Kiley McDaniel of ESPN and also by Pelota Cubana on twitter that the White Sox have reached agreement with Cuban right hander Norge Vera for $1.5 million. Vera is 6’4″ and 185 pounds and hails from Santiago, Cuba. He defected last summer and was declared a free agent on January 16th. The financial outlay from the White Sox is significant and the signing should become official on July 2nd. Vera is ranked as the #4 prospect in the 2019 international class according to MLB Pipeline.
Where The White Sox Stand
Official bonus pool numbers for the 2020 international signing period haven’t been released yet and it’s common to not become public until March under the current rules. During the 2019 period, the White Sox were provided with a pool amount of just below $5.4 million. Large market clubs are expected to receive a slight increase this year and it’s fair to speculate that the number could be around $5.8 million. In addition to Norge Vera, FutureSox reported last week that the franchise is expected to sign six additional prospects as well when the period opens on July 2nd.
In addition to taking a cursory glance at the Cuban market, the organization has been active in the Dominican Republic as well as Venezuela in recent years. Marco Paddy and his crew also landed the unheralded Benyamin Bailey out of Panama for $35K last year. The White Sox have taken a bulk approach in recent years and have prioritized depth in lieu of large bonuses. During the 2019 period, the club did sign 22-year-old Cuban shortstop Yolbert Sanchez to a bonus of $2.5 million. Sanchez was ranked as the #5 international prospect in the 2018 class despite waiting until the 2019 signing period to reach agreement officially.
Marco Paddy has landed some decent young talent for low dollar amounts in comparison to some others that were signed for bigger bonuses. The organization has been staggeringly risk averse in the 16-year-old marketplace of late. Most the of prospects signed have been for less than $1 million (some due to penalties) and Micker Adolfo‘s deal from 2014 is still the largest given to an international amateur in this particular demographic. Some recent reports indicate that the barrier could be broken in the near future though.
Mas Cubanos!
According to Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com, The White Sox are “paying close attention” to Cuban shortstop prospect Dyan Yamel Jorge, along with outfielder Yoelkis Cespedes, the younger brother of Yoenis. Yamel is the 15th ranked international prospect in the 2019 class according to MLB Pipeline. The 16-year-old shortstop was recently cleared to sign by major league baseball after establishing residency in the Dominican Republic. Hailing from Havana, Cuba, Dyan showed up in the states weighing 165 pounds at 6’2″. A source has told FutureSox that he’s added at least 20 pounds in advance of his workouts with teams.
Analysis from MLB Pipeline states that Yamel reminds some scouts of former White Sox’s shortstop Alexei Ramirez due to his size, lean build and athleticism. He has a defensive first profile with an improving bat. Dyan shows a quick, compact swing with a solid approach at the plate. He’s a line drive hitter but could be capable of 10-12 homers per year with added strength and a major league conditioning program.
Yamel already has the ability to catch and throw and possesses upside with a high baseball IQ. He was the shortstop on Cuba’s 15U Baseball Cup Team that played in Panama in 2018. The publication placed 50 grades on his hit and arm tool with 60 grades in the areas of running and fielding. The video below however shows 60 yard times in the range of 5.9-6.1 seconds which would in fact classify as true 80-grade speed.
FutureSox was unable to confirm the whereabouts of this particular workout, but Yamel is wearing Chicago White Sox gear for those interested in connecting dots throughout the recruitment process. Dyan Yamel Jorge is represented by Barry Praver of Magnus Sports, who also represents outfielder Luis Robert among others. Yoelkis Cespedes is another option for the White Sox in the near future. The 22-year-old outfielder is the half-brother of major league veteran Yoenis Cespedes and he’s another talented player whose status is in limbo.
Francys Romero of MLB.com reported last June that Cespedes disappeared from the Cuban National Team to establish residency and forge a path toward the major leagues. Yoelkis played centerfield for Granma in the Cuban League and is considered a 5 tool player according to Romero. Sources have told FutureSox that White Sox Director of International Scouting Marco Paddy has an affinity for the younger Cespedes. He compares favorably to Marlins’ minor leaguer Victor Victor Mesa. Cespedes possesses plus speed with a plus arm in the outfield but struggles with breaking stuff at the dish. There is no date set for a showcase at this juncture.
Some video of Cespedes from the World Baseball Classic
More from Phil In The Blanks: Cuba Baseball
Another Cuban player has been linked to the White Sox in recent days as well. Francys Romero reports that 17-year-old Cuban catcher/infielder Raudelis Martinez has drawn interest. The Philadelphia Phillies, New York Mets, St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants were listed as interested parties as well. He’s another player without a showcase date confirmed and he’s drawn comparisons to Yasmani Grandal at the plate.
Allocation of Resources
This is the rare scenario where the White Sox could benefit from an uncapped marketplace. An organization generally inclined to adhere to soft ceilings might actually be willing to blow right past this time. The rule changes in regards to the international market prohibit that type of behavior now though. Landing Cuban defectors is an organizational strength for the Pale Hose and the fact that they have boots on the ground in this regard shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone.
As we’ve reported here at FutureSox, the club should have just under $6 million to spend once the new international period opens on July 2nd. The organization has committed $1.5 million of that future space to Norge Vera with another $1.8 million or so allocated to 6 other amateurs from the Dominican and Venezuela. Those commitments should leave the club with just under $3 million to spend internationally. It’s anyone’s guess as to what the White Sox will choose to do.
It’s not likely though that the franchise is able to lock up agreements with Colas, Cespedes, Yamel and Martinez. They’ll likely have to prioritize based on importance and get a little bit lucky during the process. The White Sox can trade for more bonus pool space if they are able but many clubs already have significant cash committed to the next period. Yamel has a robust market and likely goes to the highest bidder. Cespedes and Martinez have situations that are a bit unknown. Colas seems to be the prize but nobody is sure of his signing timeline.
Marco Paddy has some decisions to make. And that’s a much better outcome than trading the space to save ownership money.
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If the Sox were somehow able to sign Colas, Jorge and Cespedes, Marco Paddy should receive organizational “Man of the Year” award. It is difficult to tell a lot from short clips on the internet, but I love the type of players he has identified. They all pass the eyeball test big time.